Calcium propionate, also known as "calcium propanoate" in some places, is a chemical commonly used as a food additive to ward off mold and other bacterial growth in a range of different packaged and prepared foods. It is a carbolyic acid and is the calcium salt of propionic acid, and has the chemical formula Ca(C2H5COO)2. One of its primary jobs is to break down and decompose certain amino acids that occur in nature, and can be found pretty easily in human and animal sweat, as well as in situations of bacterial fermentation. Modern manufacturers often synthesize it in labs and isolate it specifically for food production.
Calcium Propionate