Sodium benzoate on your skin: a safety profile
Low risk(People-specific data is limited; this page draws from human adult context.) Sodium benzoate (C₆H₅COONa; E211) is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, widely used as a food preservative to inhibit mold and yeast growth in acidic foods and beverages (pH < 4.5); it is one of the most extensively used food additives globally. FDA GRAS status (21 CFR 184.1733): sodium benzoate is Generally Recognized as Safe for food use at concentrations up to 0.1% (1000 ppm) in most food categories. Regulatory approvals: FDA, EFSA (E211), Codex Alimentarius — maximum permitted levels typically 500–2000 ppm depending on food category. Mechanism of preservation: in acidic conditions (pH <4.5), sodium benzoate converts to undissociated benzoic acid, which penetrates microbial cell membranes, inhibits phosphofructokinase, and disrupts electron transport — effective against yeasts and molds. Applications: carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, jams/jellies, pickles, relishes, salad dressings, soy sauce, margarine, and pharmaceutical syrups. Metabolism: absorbed sodium benzoate undergoes conjugation with glycine in hepatic mitochondria via glycine N-acyltransferase (GNAT) to form hippuric acid (benzoylglycine), which is rapidly excreted in urine — efficient detoxification mechanism in healthy adults. Benzoate sensitivity: rare individuals exhibit hypersensitivity reactions (urticaria, asthma exacerbation) to benzoate at food-additive levels — estimated prevalence <1% of population. No carcinogen classification. ADI (EFSA 2016): 0–5 mg/kg body weight/day.
What is sodium benzoate?
Also known as: Sobenate, Antimol, Benzoic acid, sodium salt, sodium;benzoate.
- IUPAC name
- sodium benzoate
- CAS number
- 532-32-1
- Molecular formula
- C7H5NaO2
- Molecular weight
- 144.1 g/mol
- SMILES
- C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=O)[O-].[Na+]
- PubChem CID
- 517055
Risk for people
Low riskSodium benzoate (C₆H₅COONa; E211) is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, widely used as a food preservative to inhibit mold and yeast growth in acidic foods and beverages (pH < 4.5); it is one of the most extensively used food additives globally. FDA GRAS status (21 CFR 184.1733): sodium benzoate is Generally Recognized as Safe for food use at concentrations up to 0.1% (1000 ppm) in most food categories. Regulatory approvals: FDA, EFSA (E211), Codex Alimentarius — maximum permitted levels typically 500–2000 ppm depending on food category. Mechanism of preservation: in acidic conditions (pH <4.5), sodium benzoate converts to undissociated benzoic acid, which penetrates microbial cell membranes, inhibits phosphofructokinase, and disrupts electron transport — effective against yeasts and molds. Applications: carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, jams/jellies, pickles, relishes, salad dressings, soy sauce, margarine, and pharmaceutical syrups. Metabolism: absorbed sodium benzoate undergoes conjugation with glycine in hepatic mitochondria via glycine N-acyltransferase (GNAT) to form hippuric acid (benzoylglycine), which is rapidly excreted in urine — efficient detoxification mechanism in healthy adults. Benzoate sensitivity: rare individuals exhibit hypersensitivity reactions (urticaria, asthma exacerbation) to benzoate at food-additive levels — estimated prevalence <1% of population. No carcinogen classification. ADI (EFSA 2016): 0–5 mg/kg body weight/day.
Regulatory consensus
2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Sodium benzoate. The classifications differ — that's the data.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 13 positive / 6 negative reports) | |
| EPA CTX / Genetox | — | Genotoxicity: positive (Ames: positive, 13 positive / 6 negative reports) |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where you encounter sodium benzoate
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
- Personal Care — shampoo, conditioner, lotion, cosmetics, sunscreen
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Sodium benzoate:
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Physical/mechanical pest control (IPM)
Trade-offs: More labor-intensive. May not be sufficient for severe infestations.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
What products contain sodium benzoate?
Sodium benzoate appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments); shampoo (Personal care).
See Sodium benzoate in the body app
Look up products containing sodium benzoate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in body View raw API dataSources (2)
- FDA GRAS 21 CFR 184.1733: Sodium Benzoate — GRAS; 0.1% maximum use; food preservative; benzene formation with ascorbic acid; 2006-2008 survey; hippuric acid metabolism (2021) (2021) — regulatory
- EFSA ANS Panel: Re-evaluation of Benzoic Acid (E 210), Sodium Benzoate (E 211) — ADI 5 mg/kg bw/day; dietary exposure assessment; Southampton study; hyperactivity; benzene formation; safety conclusion (2016) (2016) — regulatory
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →