Sodium benzoate

What this is

Sodium benzoate is widely permitted as a food preservative, but only under defined conditions of use. In the United States, FDA’s GRAS regulation lists sodium benzoate for use as an antimicrobial agent and flavoring agent/adjuvant, with current usage resulting in a maximum level of 0.1% in food. Codex lists sodium benzoate as additive 211 in the benzoates group, with preservative as its functional class. EFSA’s 2016 re-evaluation found low short-term and subchronic toxicity, no concern for genotoxicity, and no indication of carcinogenic potential, while also noting that some child exposure scenarios could exceed the group ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight per day expressed as benzoic acid. A formulation-specific concern is benzene formation when benzoate salts are combined with ascorbic acid and exposed to heat or UV light; FDA reported that most sampled beverages had no detectable benzene or levels well below the EPA drinking-water MCL.

Safety Review

The critical endpoints experts review in safety assessments. This is not a prediction of harm.

EFSA found low short-term and subchronic toxicity, no genotoxicity concern, and no indication of carcinogenic potential for benzoates, but retained a group ADI and modeled exceedances for some toddlers and children. A separate formulation-specific concern is benzene formation in beverages when benzoate salts are combined with ascorbic acid and exposed to heat or UV light. Child-behavior evidence comes from a mixture trial involving colors plus sodium benzoate, so sodium-benzoate-only causality remains uncertain.