Sodium benzoate

Studies in people

• Concern

  Skin reactions to food³

  Only one of 47 people tested reacted to sodium benzoate, so such reactions appear rare.

Animal and lab studies only

• Concern

  Insulin-producing cells in the pancreas⁶

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate changed insulin release and caused inflammation in the cells that make insulin.

• Concern

  Bone loss over time⁷

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate led to bone loss, and longer feeding made it worse.

• Concern

  Blood cell DNA damage⁸

  In lab studies, sodium benzoate increased DNA damage in human blood cells.

• Concern

  Red blood cell stress¹¹

  In lab studies, sodium benzoate raised signs of stress in red blood cells, and antioxidants helped only at low levels.

• Concern

  Liver cell changes¹²

  In lab studies, sodium benzoate changed how liver cells switch certain genes on and off, but only at high amounts.

• Concern

  Immune balance¹³

  In lab studies, sodium benzoate weakened one type of immune response in human blood cells.

• Concern

  Adrenal gland changes¹⁴

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate changed the tiny structures inside rat adrenal gland cells.

• Concern

  Thyroid cell changes¹⁵

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate changed the tiny structures inside thyroid cells.

• Concern

  Weight gain in rats¹⁶

  In animal studies, rats given sodium benzoate every day gained weight more slowly than untreated rats.

• Concern

  Bone structure in rats¹⁷

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate changed the structure of rats' upper arm bones, and higher amounts caused more change.

• Concern

  Jaw bone structure¹⁸

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate changed how the jaw bone's crystals formed.

• Concern

  Lymph node changes¹⁹

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate eaten daily along with radiation changed the structure of rats' lymph nodes.

• Concern

  Thyroid gland in rats²⁰

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate was linked to fewer new thyroid follicles forming in rats.

• Concern

  Blood clotting in rabbits²¹

  In animal studies, sodium benzoate eaten for five days reduced a platelet substance in rabbits.

• Concern

  DNA damage²²

  In lab studies, sodium benzoate showed weak DNA-damaging activity.

Study type not stated

• No harm found

  Preservatives in drinks⁵

  Sodium benzoate levels in soft drinks, energy drinks and juices were within limits and not linked to a safety risk.

How it’s made and used

• Preservatives in doogh⁴

  Sodium benzoate levels in doogh stayed within international limits and below the daily intake considered acceptable.

• Listeria growth in deli meats⁹

  In deli meats, sodium benzoate held back Listeria longer when the meat was drier and had more salt.

• Mold growth on sausages¹⁰

  Sodium benzoate slowed mold growth on Portuguese dry sausages, but another preservative worked better.

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 one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. 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.

Expert panels that weigh all the research. Shown for context: the signal at the top does not count them.

• UN and WHO food additive experts (JECFA), 2021

  Acceptable daily intake: up to 20 mg per kg of body weight.