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E240❌ Avoid

Formaldehyde

Category

Preservatives

Function

Preservative

EU: BannedUS: Banned

Notes

Formaldehyde. BANNED as food additive in both EU and US. Toxic.

Avoid. Banned or considered harmful; avoid consumption.

Official Sources

EU Register — EU Register entry for E240(2026-07-01, tier 1)
EFSA — EFSA OpenFood Tox database(2026-07-01, tier 1)
FDA — FDA Substances Added to Food (search: E240)(2026-07-01, tier 1)
Codex Alimentarius — Codex GSFA entry for E240(2026-07-01, tier 2)

Last checked: 2026-07-13