What is sodium benzoate and is it harmful?

While sodium benzoate is considered safe, scientists have shown that negative side effects occur when it’s mixed with ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Their studies indicate that it then turns into benzene, a known carcinogen that may cause cancer.

What is the use of sodium benzoate?

Sodium benzoate inhibits the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, mold, and other microbes in food, thus deterring spoilage. It’s particularly effective in acidic foods ( 6 ). Therefore, it’s commonly used in foods, such as soda, bottled lemon juice, pickles, jelly, salad dressing, soy sauce, and other condiments.

Is sodium benzoate banned?

Sodium Benzoate is not being banned in any country. However, the dose per product is being monitored in the US and Europe.

Is sodium benzoate safe in skin care?

Sodium benzoate is not a toxin or carcinogen on its own, and large amounts of it would have to be consumed, not applied topically, for any adverse effects to be seen. Overall, sodium benzoate is one of the most reliable ingredients on the market and very safe for consumers.

Is sodium benzoate bad for kidneys?

Sodium benzoate is a widely used preservative found in many foods and soft drinks. It is metabolized within mitochondria to produce hippurate, which is then cleared by the kidneys. Ingestion of sodium benzoate at the generally regarded as safe (GRAS) dose leads to a robust excursion in the plasma hippurate level.

Is sodium benzoate antibacterial?

Sodium benzoate among other preservatives showed the strongest inhibitory effect on both Aeromonas species and Cedecea species. (6) , they reported that sodium benzoate had the strongest antifungal activity (2.5mg/ml) while sodium nitrite had highest antibacterial activity (0.5mg/ml). …

Is sodium benzoate good for skin?

Sodium benzoate is used in a wide variety of cosmetics and personal care products where it acts as a corrosion inhibitor, fragrance ingredient, and preservative. As a preservative, sodium benzoate is primarily an anti-fungal agent but also has some effectiveness against bacteria.

Is sodium benzoate a formaldehyde?

Preservatives like Phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, Neolone, OptiphenPlus, Hydantoin, Glycacil, Natrulon, and benzethonium chloride are all formaldehyde-free.

Is sodium benzoate safe than Parabens?

Like the Parabens, it is active against a broad spectrum of microorganisms but its activity against Gram+ bacteria, yeast and mold is not always totally convincing. Sodium Benzoate (and Benzoic Acid), potentially in combination with Potassium Sorbate, is also an acceptable alternative.

Is sodium benzoate bad for liver?

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that SB caused kidney injury more than liver injury, but as a food preservative, which is consumed for a long period of life, it may cause liver damage additionally.

What is sodium benzoate and what does it do?

The medicine Sodium benzoate is used to treat Headache

What is sodium benzoate and is it safe?

Sodium benzoate is a food preservative that occurs naturally in some fruits. The chemical is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and is considered safe to ingest and apply to the skin. It should not be used in certain acidic products because it may combine to form harmful compounds, but it is not toxic and does not irritate tissue.

Is there anything dangerous about sodium benzoate?

Though sodium benzoate by itself in small amounts may not cause a reaction in some people, its tendency to produce benzene when combined with vitamin C makes it a dangerous additive in a lot of soft drinks, especially fruit juices and supposedly “healthy” drinks boasting high vitamin C content.

How does sodium benzoate affect the body?

In certain individuals, nausea and vomiting may occur. In rare cases, sodium benzoate can irritate existing stomach ulcers and cause mild hyperventilation, possibly leading to dizziness and lightheadedness, according to the Hazardous Substances Data Bank of the National Library of Medicine.