Food additive databaseKeeps food longerChecked 2026-09-27
Milt protein (protamine) しらこたん白（プロタミン）
Food additiveNot permitted in the EUUsed in 1 product on this site
- Purpose
- prevents microbial growth and extends shelf life (preservative)
- On the label
- “保存料（しらこたん白）” (preservative (shirako protein)), “保存料（しらこ）” (preservative (shirako, milt)), “保存料（プロタミン）” (preservative (protamine))
Flagged additives are marked when you use the Ingredient Checker (choose others).
In Japan
- An existing food additive whose main component is a basic protein taken from fish testes (shirako, milt). Its name in the List of Existing Food Additives is “しらこたん白抽出物” (shirako protein extract). It may also be written by the alternative names “しらこたん白” and “プロタミン” (protamine), or by the shorter names “しらこ” and “核たん白” (nucleoprotein).
- Because it is a preservative, the rule is to write the purpose name alongside it, as in “保存料（しらこたん白）” (preservative (shirako protein)).
- The raw material is the milt of salmon, trout, herring, and similar fish (Hiroshima Prefecture explanation). Salmon is an item for which allergen labeling is recommended, and for an additive it is written like “（さけ由来）” (derived from salmon) (Food Labeling Standards Q&A).
- Existing food additives that are preservatives do not have standards for use (rules on which foods they may be used in and how much), unlike designated-additive preservatives (Hiroshima Prefecture explanation).
- On this site, the product “太鼓判 中華そば” (Taikoban Chukasoba, Chinese-style noodles) is labeled “保存料（しらこたん白：さけ由来）” (preservative (shirako protein: derived from salmon)).
Under stricter rules abroad
Category: Not permitted in the EU
- It is not on the EU list of food additives (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II) and has no E number. It is not permitted as a preservative in the EU.
Products on this site that contain it
| Product | As written on the label |
|---|---|
| 「太鼓判」中華そば 3食シマダヤ | 保存料（しらこたん白：さけ由来） |
Product pages are in Japanese for now; each one reads every ingredient on the label.
Related pages
Sources
- Food Labeling Standards (Cabinet Office Ordinance No. 10 of 2015) (Japanese)
- EU Regulation 1333/2008 (EUR-Lex)
Last checked 2026-09-27. Rules change over time. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.
The categories are not a safety verdict. Additives used in Japan are approved by the government, which sets the foods and amounts they can be used in. This page lists facts stated in laws and in evaluations by public bodies.