Sodium benzoate is a sodium salt produced by combining benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide. Manufacturers primarily use sodium benzoate as a preservative and corrosion inhibitor. While the Food and Drug Administration has approved sodium benzoate as a food preservative, some concerns exist regarding its safety as a food preservative.
Uses
Manufacturers use sodium benzoate as a food preservative even though benzoic acid is more effective as an antimicrobial agent. Manufacturers prefer sodium benzoate, however, because the sodium salt has more solubility than benzoic acid. The soft drink industry commonly uses benzoic acid in the production of soft drinks. Additionally, sodium benzoate commonly serves as a preservative in pharmaceutical products and medications.
Effects on Humans
After you ingest sodium benzoate, your body absorbs the sodium salt in your gastrointestinal tract. Your liver then metabolizes sodium benzoate resulting in the formation of hippuric acid. Your body excretes hippuric acid through urine. According to "A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives," acute toxicity of sodium benzoate is not common. However, sodium benzoate can cause allergies, asthma, and in rare cases anaphylactic shock.
Sodium Benzoate and Cell Damage
According to "An A-Z Guide to Food Additives: Never Eat What You Can't Pronounce," sodium benzoate can switch off of vital parts of your DNA. This can eventually lead to cirrhosis, a disease of the liver and to degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. Additionally, sodium can produce the carcinogenic substance benzene when mixed with the additive vitamin C in soft drinks.
Sodium Benzoate and Hyperactivity
According to "A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives," the UK's Food Standards Agency has suggested that certain artificial colors combined with sodium benzoate may lead to hyperactive behavior. The FSA recommends further research because the currently available studies are not conclusive. In the study, the FSA mixed various additives containing artificial colors with sodium benzoate. However, the results did not show consistency and suggested that more than one color combined with sodium benzoate may lead to hyperactivity.
References
- "Why There's Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste: The Chemistry of Household Ingredients"; Simon Quellen Field; 2007
- "A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, 7th Edition: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods"; Ruth Winter; 2009
Member Comments