Is Sodium benzoate bad for you?
Also listed as: INS 211, E211
Short answer
Approved and considered safe within set limits. Worth limiting in sugary soft drinks, especially combined with vitamin C, and for children sensitive to additives.
What it is
A preservative that stops yeasts, moulds and some bacteria from growing in acidic foods.
Where you’ll see it
Soft drinks, squashes, pickles, sauces, jams and ready-to-eat chutneys.
+ The good side
- Keeps acidic foods safe for longer
- Used in small, regulated amounts
− The other side
- Combined with vitamin C (ascorbic acid), heat and light, it can form tiny amounts of benzene; manufacturers and regulators monitor this
- A UK study linked a mix of certain colours plus sodium benzoate with increased hyperactivity in some children
Who should pay attention
Parents, and people who drink a lot of bottled soft drinks or squashes.
💡 What to do: Store drinks containing both benzoate and vitamin C away from heat and sunlight.
Got a pack with Sodium benzoate?
Snap the label. NutriSathi shows how much it matters in that product, for your body and where you bought it. Free.
Check a product free →Related
Potassium sorbate
One of the most studied, lowest-risk preservatives. It stops mould and yeast; rare skin sensitivity has been reported.
Tartrazine
Permitted within limits, but a small number of people react to it, and in the EU foods with it must warn that it may affect activity and attention in children.
Citric acid
Safe. It’s the acid naturally found in lemons, usually made by fermentation. The only practical concern is tooth enamel in acidic drinks.
General food information, not medical advice. Exact limits and labelling rules vary by country. If you have a medical condition or allergy, follow your doctor’s or dietitian’s advice.