无气味或稍有气味。在空气中不稳定，会被氧化而变色。20℃时溶解度：水58.2%，乙醇6.5%，丙二醇5.8%，乙醚0.1%。半数致死量（小鼠，经口）5860mg/kg。有刺激性。 orbates have been reported to be less toxic than benzoate and have been classified as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) additives by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Sorbic acid is metabolised to mainly to carbon dioxide. While the minor amounts are converted to trans,trans-muconic acid (ttMA), which is excreted unchanged into the urine. Urinary ttMA is a biomarker for the occupational and environmental exposure to benzene. Ability of trans,trans-2,4-Hexadienoic acid potassium salt (Sorbic acid potassium salt, Potassium sorbate) to induce chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and gene mutations in cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells has been examined.Potassium sorbate is reported to be less genotoxic than the sodium salt analog. Sorbic acid and its potassium salt is commonly employed as food preservative in wide range of foodstuffs, such as cheese, pickles, sauces and wines.