Benzoic acid and sorbic acid intake from food in Taiwan
What it found
In Taiwan, the highest estimated intakes of benzoic acid and sorbic acid from food stayed below daily limits.
The measurements covered eight age groups of general consumers.
What they found
Studies in people
Benzoic acid intake levels
Among heavy consumers, boys aged 1 to 2 years reached 54.1% of the daily limit for benzoic acid. For women over 66, the figure was 61.7%.
Sorbic acid intake levels
Heavy consumers aged 3 to 6 years took in up to 14.0% of the daily limit for sorbic acid if male. For females in that age group it was 12.2%.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that current use of these preservatives in the Taiwanese diet does not raise a public health concern.
- Their results show that even high consumers stay within accepted daily limits.
How it was done
The authors wanted to check whether the amounts of these two preservatives people eat in Taiwan could pose a health risk.
They ran a total diet study in Taiwan to estimate how much benzoic acid and sorbic acid people take in from food. They split consumers into eight age groups. They then compared high intake levels against accepted daily limits.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work estimates intake from food rather than measuring health effects directly.
- It only covers people in Taiwan, so it may not reflect diets elsewhere.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- China Medical University, Taiwan R.O.C
The paper
- Title
- Dietary exposure estimates for the food preservatives benzoic acid and sorbic acid in the total diet in Taiwan
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Ling MP, Lien KW, Wu CH, Ni SP, Huang HY, Hsieh DP (2015). Dietary exposure estimates for the food preservatives benzoic acid and sorbic acid in the total diet in Taiwan. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. doi:10.1021/jf503987yPubMed 25633072DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error