Sodium dehydroacetate

Sodium dehydroacetate suppliers and sourcing guide

Sodium dehydroacetate is the sodium salt of dehydroacetic acid, a pyrone compound made synthetically from diketene. It is a white, water-soluble powder, and is mainly used as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care products, often paired with other preservatives. Brands usually buy it as a powder or as part of a ready-made preservative blend, and it is often sold as the monohydrate.

See suppliers What to ask for on the COA

Category: Acids, preservatives and leavening
Also known as: Sodium DHA · Dehydroacetic acid sodium salt · E266 · CAS 4418-26-2
Facts checked: November 2026

Forms and grades of sodium dehydroacetate

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

Powder (monohydrate)
White crystalline powder, the most common form; dissolves readily in water phases.
Dehydroacetic acid
The free acid, less soluble in water, sold for oil phases and some food-contact or squash applications.
Cosmetic preservative blends
Sodium dehydroacetate premixed with benzyl alcohol, glycols or other preservatives under trade names, often marketed for "paraben-free" or certified natural-style formulas.
Food grade
Material sold against food specifications for the limited food uses that regulators allow.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Assay (titration or HPLC): Sodium dehydroacetate content on a dry basis, typically 98 percent or more.
Loss on drying or water: Water content, which tells you whether you have the monohydrate or anhydrous material and how much active each kilogram delivers.
Identity: IR spectrum or melting point of the liberated acid, matched to a reference.
pH of solution: pH of a stated aqueous solution, a quick check on the salt form.
Heavy metals: Lead, arsenic and other metals by ICP-MS or ICP-OES against the supplier's specification or the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) limits.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep sodium dehydroacetate sealed in its original container in a cool, dry place away from light and strong acids. It can discolor with light and heat, so opaque packaging and closed containers help. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, with retest of assay and appearance for older stock.

Lots and expiry dates

Record assay and water content for each lot, since the hydrate state changes how much active you add. Note whether you bought straight sodium dehydroacetate or a blend, because blends carry other preservatives that must appear on the ingredient list.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

21 CFR 172.130 permits dehydroacetic acid and/or its sodium salt as a food additive, used as a preservative for cut or peeled squash.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
The same section limits residues to no more than 65 parts per million, expressed as dehydroacetic acid, in or on the prepared squash.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists sodium dehydroacetate as an approved chemical name with the non-medicinal purpose "preservative antimicrobial".
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Sodium dehydroacetate suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking sodium dehydroacetate suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of sodium dehydroacetate can brands buy?

Common forms include powder (monohydrate), dehydroacetic acid, cosmetic preservative blends and food grade. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for sodium dehydroacetate include?

Expect assay (titration or HPLC), loss on drying or water, identity, pH of solution and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should sodium dehydroacetate be stored?

What is the regulatory status of sodium dehydroacetate?

21 CFR 172.130 permits dehydroacetic acid and/or its sodium salt as a food additive, used as a preservative for cut or peeled squash. The same section limits residues to no more than 65 parts per million, expressed as dehydroacetic acid, in or on the prepared squash. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists sodium dehydroacetate as an approved chemical name with the non-medicinal purpose "preservative antimicrobial".

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