Learn Glossary preservative

Sodium Benzoate(E211)

Level 3ContestedIn Winter's Dictionary

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative — Preservative active against yeast and bacteria

What it does

Preservative active against yeast and bacteria

Where you'll see it

soft drinks, pickles, sauces, fruit juices, margarine, codfish, jams

What the research says

Moderately toxic by ingestion; caused birth defects in experimental animals; additional information required to evaluate gene toxicity

Regulatory status

  • US FDA: GRAS
  • EU: approved
  • Notes: ASP; caused birth defects in experimental animals

Sources

  • A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives (Winter): a preservative that is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, active against yeast and bacteria