E211; Sodium Benzoate

(in 23,789 products)

1. Antioxidant - Reduces oxidation to prevent the formation of free radicals which may be harmful to health.

2. Bacteriostatic Agent - Prevents, slows or inhibits bacteria growth

3. Drug / Medicine - Treats, alleviate, cure, or prevents sickness. As officially declared by a governmental drug/medicine regulatory body

4. Preservative - Prevents and inhibits the growth of unwanted microorganisms which may be harmful

Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and exists in this form when dissolved in water. It is a preservative (E number 211) commonly used in foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

It is mostly used in acidic foods such as salad dressings (i.e. acetic acid in vinegar), carbonated drinks (carbonic acid), jams and fruit juices (citric acid), pickles (acetic acid), condiments, and animal food additive.

It is approved to use a food additive and cosmetics preservative in EU and recognized as safe food substance in US.

1. PubChem: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/517055

1. US FDA Food Additives Status List [2018]

- Sodium benzoate

2. EU Approved Food Additive [2018]

- E211

3. Japan’s List of Designated Food Additives under Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Act

- Sodium Benzoate

4. EU CosIng Annex V, PRESERVATIVES ALLOWED IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS [2017]

- Ref: V/1

5. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Annex VI, Allowed Preservatives

- Benzoic acid (CAS No. 65-85-0), and its sodium salt (CAS No 532-32-1)

6. US FDA Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Food Substances (21 CFR 184) [2017]

- § 184.1733 - Sodium benzoate

7. European Chemicals Agency

- https://echa.europa.eu/fr/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/14966