Potassium sorbate levels measured in foods from Kashan, Iran
What it found
Potassium sorbate was found below limits in almost all tested foods from Iran, but one cake sample was higher.
Calculated risk scores suggested a possible non-cancer health concern for people eating these products.
What they found
Levels in tested foods
Neither preservative was found in tomato paste. All other samples had amounts below set limits, except one cake with potassium sorbate at 3.57%.
Risk scores for potassium sorbate
Daily intake and hazard scores for potassium sorbate in mayonnaise, salad and cake were below acceptable limits. But the combined risk score for potassium sorbate across all chosen foods was above one.
Risk scores for sodium benzoate
Hazard scores for sodium benzoate in mayonnaise and fizzy drinks were above one. The authors say this points to a notable non-cancer risk from eating those items.
What the authors conclude
- They say these findings show a need for closer watching of preservative levels in food.
- The authors advise both shoppers and health officials in Iran to pay more attention to these additives.
How it was done
The authors wanted to check how much sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate were present in everyday foods sold in Kashan, Iran. They also wanted to estimate the health risk for local consumers.
They tested 103 food items bought in Kashan, including baked goods, sauces, drinks and salads. They used two lab methods to measure preservative amounts. They then calculated daily intake and risk scores for the Iranian population.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work measured chemicals in food and ran calculations, so it cannot show actual harm in real people.
- The risk scores are estimates based on models, not direct proof of illness.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Assessment of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate preservatives in some products in Kashan, Iran with estimation of human health risk
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Chaleshtori FS, Arian A, Chaleshtori RS (2018). Assessment of sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate preservatives in some products in Kashan, Iran with estimation of human health risk. Food and chemical toxicology. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2018.08.010PubMed 30099054DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error