What E211 actually is
Sodium benzoate stops mould, yeast, and some bacteria growing in acidic products. It only works properly below about pH 4.5, which is why you find it in fizzy drinks, pickles, and dressings but not in bread or milk. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in cranberries, prunes, and cinnamon.
What it is made from
Manufactured by neutralising benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide. Both starting materials are produced industrially rather than extracted from plants or animals.
Vegan, vegetarian, and halal status
Sodium benzoate is entirely synthetic with no animal-derived input at any stage, so it is suitable for vegan, vegetarian, halal, and kosher diets.
Is E211 safe?
Approved in the EU, UK, US, and Australia and New Zealand, with an acceptable daily intake of 5 mg per kg of body weight per day set by EFSA. Two issues are worth knowing about honestly. First, in the presence of ascorbic acid and warmth, benzoate can degrade to benzene, a known carcinogen. This was found in some soft drinks in the mid-2000s, and reformulation and process controls followed. Second, sodium benzoate was one of the preservatives in the 2007 Southampton study on children's behaviour, though the EU warning label that came out of that study applies to six colours, not to benzoate.
- Benzene formation is possible when combined with vitamin C, and is now actively controlled by manufacturers
- Included in the 2007 Southampton study on activity and attention in children, though the resulting warning label applies to colours, not benzoate
- Some people with asthma or urticaria report sensitivity to benzoates
Where regulators stand
- EFSA (EU)
- Re-evaluated in 2016. Acceptable daily intake of 5 mg per kg of body weight per day.
- FDA (US)
- Generally recognized as safe, with a limit of 0.1 percent in food.
Foods it turns up in
- Fizzy drinks and squash
- Pickles and condiments
- Salad dressings and sauces
- Fruit juice concentrates
- Some medicines and mouthwashes
Names it hides behind
- E211
- Sodium benzoate
- Preservative (E211)
- Benzoic acid is E210, the related free acid
Common questions
- Is sodium benzoate bad for you?
- At permitted levels it is considered safe by regulators worldwide. The genuine issue is the benzene reaction with vitamin C, which manufacturers now control through reformulation and process management.
- Is sodium benzoate vegan and halal?
- Yes. It is chemically manufactured with no animal-derived input at any stage.
- Why is sodium benzoate only in acidic foods?
- It only becomes active as a preservative below about pH 4.5. In a neutral food it simply would not work, which is why you see it in soft drinks and pickles and not in bread.
- Does sodium benzoate cause hyperactivity?
- It was one ingredient in the 2007 Southampton study mixtures, but the EU warning label that followed applies to six specific colours, not to sodium benzoate.
- What is the difference between E210 and E211?
- E210 is benzoic acid, the free acid. E211 is its sodium salt, which dissolves far more readily in water and is therefore what manufacturers usually use.
Checking a real pack
This page answers the code. The pack in your hand is what decides, because the same code can come from different sources depending on the manufacturer. LabelWise, formerly SafeChoice, scans the label and explains what is in front of you.
Related
LabelWise content is educational and describes how additives are made, regulated, and labelled. It is not medical, dietary, or religious advice. For certification questions, the mark on the pack and the certifying body are the authority.