Benzoic acid

Studies in people

• Open question

  How the body makes salicylic acid⁵

  In people, eating benzoic acid turned into a compound also made naturally in the body, but how much is still unknown.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Gut health⁹

  In piglet studies, benzoic acid may improve gut function, but too much may harm gut health.

• Concern

  Combined additive kidney harm¹⁰

  In lab studies, benzoic acid and acesulfame K together strongly slowed kidney cell growth.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  preservative health effects⁶

  Benzoic acid is used as a preservative in food, but its effects on health are still debated.

• Open question

  Kidney disease and vitamin C⁷

  Scientists do not yet know whether benzoic acid reacts with vitamin C in people with kidney problems.

How it’s made and used

• How much we eat²

  In people, the amount of benzoic acid eaten from processed food stayed well below the daily limit.

• Daily intake from soft drinks³

  Benzoic acid intake in Belgian adults was likely below the safe daily limit, with soft drinks the main source.

• How much kids drink⁴

  In Hong Kong students, benzoic acid from pre-packaged drinks stayed well under the daily intake limit.

• How the body processes it⁸

  Scientists say the safe daily amount of benzoic acid could be doubled, based on how the body handles it.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.