Calcium Formate

Calcium formate is the calcium salt of formic acid. It is also known as E238. Under this E number it is used as an animal feed preservative within EU, but not in foods intended for people.

Calcium formate is used within EU as an animal feed preservative. It acidifies the feed thus preventing microbe growth and increasing shelf life. About 15 g of calcium formate addition per kg of feed lowers its pH by one. 15 g/kg is the maximum recommended feed concentration within EU – this level is thought to be safe for pigs, chickens, fish and ruminants. The compound is not environmentally harmful in feed use at these levels. Calcium formate prevents the growth bacteria such as E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus hirae in growth mediums. It also prevents the growth of fungi like Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans.

Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of calcium formate when used as a technological additive for all animal species

Calcium Formate is an additive in powder & crystalline form which will allow the formulator to improve the accelerating and hardening effect on the strength development and adhesion properties of all cement based mortars.

Calcium Formate can be used in concrete, dry mortar and tile adhesives, it acts on both setting and hardening time by accelerating the formation of tricalcium alluminate silicate. Depending on dosage Calcium Formate also strongly modifies the initial workability of the wet mortar.