Information › Ingredients › Preservatives
Preservatives: E200 to E285 on a Dutch label
Updated on 4 November 2026
At a glance
- Kind
- Ingredient, not an allergen
- Also as
- conserveermiddel, E2
- Without preservatives
- 32,639 products
- Contain it
- 9,285 products
- Supermarkets
- AH, Jumbo, PLUS, Dirk and Hoogvliet
What are preservatives?
Preservatives slow down spoilage by moulds and bacteria, such as sorbic acid (E200) and sodium benzoate (E211). On the label they appear as ‘preservative’ with the name or the E number, E200 to E285.
Recognise
On a Dutch label as
- conserveermiddel
- E2
May also be it
- antioxidants such as E300 (listed separately)
Not preservatives
- salt, sugar and vinegar
We look for these Dutch words in the ingredient list itself, also between brackets. If in doubt, read the pack.
Shopping
Per shelf where preservatives are common (the shops’ own Dutch shelf names)
Examples without preservatives
- Calvé KnoflooksausCalvé · 320 mlDirk € 1,99Hoogvliet € 1,99Albert Heijn € 2,29Jumbo € 2,29PLUS € 2,29Contains: Cow's milk, Egg, Lactose, Milk, Mustard
- Croma SmeltjusCroma · 250 gDirk € 2,09Hoogvliet € 2,15Albert Heijn € 2,19Jumbo € 2,19PLUS € 2,19Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk, Soy
- Honig RoerbakmieHonig · 300 gDirk € 1,79Hoogvliet € 1,84Albert Heijn € 1,89Jumbo € 1,89PLUS € 1,89Contains: Egg, Gluten, WheatMay contain traces: Soy
- Jean Bâton Truffel mayonaiseJean Bâton · 135 mlDirk € 2,59Hoogvliet € 2,59Albert Heijn € 2,69Jumbo € 2,69PLUS € 2,69Contains: Egg, Mustard
- Croma Olijfolie vloeibaarCroma · 450 mlDirk € 4,19Hoogvliet € 4,32Albert Heijn € 4,39Jumbo € 4,39PLUS € 4,39Contains: Cow's milk, Lactose, Milk, Soy
- Fairtrade KokosmelkFairtrade · 400 mlDirk € 2,49Hoogvliet € 2,49Albert Heijn € 2,59Jumbo € 2,59PLUS € 2,59No allergens listed
All 32,639 products without preservatives (in Dutch)
Which supermarket has the most without?
On the shelves where preservatives are common: the share of products without it.
- Albert Heijn66%510 of 771
- PLUS65%1,139 of 1,740
- Hoogvliet63%755 of 1,199
- Dirk57%922 of 1,604
- Jumbo54%703 of 1,308
Brands without preservatives
On the shelves where preservatives are common, none of their products names it.
- Spa 48
- Red Bull 43
- Snelle Jelle 23
- Maggi 22
- Lipton 21
- Grand sud 17
- Philadelphia 15
- Mangiare 15
- Kuhne 14
- Kesbeke 13
- Vivaldo 12
- Oasis 12
What to look for in the shop
- Read the ingredient list: it is there by its Dutch name or its E number, the same in every language.
- Watch compound ingredients between brackets: it is sometimes in there.
Good to know
Recently without preservatives (8)These products named preservatives on an earlier label, and no longer do.
What are preservatives mostly in?Most often in the shelves ‘Tapas’ (78% contains it), ‘Verse maaltijden’ (66% contains it) and ‘Frisdranken’ (42% contains it).
Most often in the shelves ‘Tapas’ (78% contains it), ‘Verse maaltijden’ (66% contains it) and ‘Frisdranken’ (42% contains it). There is choice without it there too: 32 products on ‘Tapas’, for example.
How do preservatives read on a Dutch label?As conserveermiddel and E2.
As conserveermiddel and E2. We look for those words in the ingredient list itself, also in compound ingredients between brackets.
How many products contain preservatives?9,285 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 22%.
9,285 of the 41,924 products with an ingredient list, about 22%. The other 32,639 do not name it.
Which supermarket has the most products without preservatives?On the shelves where preservatives are common: Albert Heijn (66% without), PLUS (65% without), Hoogvliet (63% without), Dirk (57% without) and Jumbo (54% without).
On the shelves where preservatives are common: Albert Heijn (66% without), PLUS (65% without), Hoogvliet (63% without), Dirk (57% without) and Jumbo (54% without).
Are sorbates and benzoates the only preservatives?No.
No. Sorbates (E200–E203) and benzoates (E210–E213) are the most common and have pages of their own, but every E number from E200 to E285 counts, as do sulphites (E220–E228) and nitrites (E249–E252).
A choice of your own, not an allergy
Preservatives are not an allergen: whether you eat or use them is up to you. We show what the ingredient list says, so you can choose. Recipes change: if in doubt, the pack in your hand decides.
More ingredients under Ingredients; allergens under Allergies.
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