Potassium sorbate is a preservative used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals:

Food: Potassium sorbate is used to prevent the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria in foods like cheese, wine, beer, dried meat, and soft drinks. It’s also found naturally in some fruits, like mountain ash berries.

Cosmetics: Potassium sorbate is used in personal care products because it’s gentle on the skin and a safer alternative to other preservatives. It’s compatible with most ingredients in haircare products.

Pharmaceuticals: Potassium sorbate is used as a preservative in medical products.

Potassium sorbate is a synthetic derivative of sorbic acid, an organic compound found in many red fruits, like strawberries. It’s odorless and tasteless, and is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) to preserve food.