Natamycin, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate levels in Iraqi doogh
What it found
Levels of natamycin, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate in a yogurt drink from Iraq were within international standards.
Estimated daily intakes for all three preservatives fell below accepted limits.
What they found
Studies in people
Estimated daily intake
The estimated daily intake values for sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and natamycin from doogh were all below the acceptable daily intake limits.
Hazard quotient results
Hazard quotient data for sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in doogh were below 1.
Other findings
Preservative amounts measured
Sodium benzoate ranged from <0.47 to 22.5 mg/L. Potassium sorbate ranged from <0.015 to 8.3 mg/L. Natamycin ranged from 1.4 to 11.5 mg/L.
Compared to international standards
The authors report that the measured levels of all three preservatives fell within international standards.
What the authors conclude
- They state that the preservative levels found in doogh fall within international standards.
- They conclude that the estimated daily intakes are below acceptable limits.
- They advise that these levels do not pose a health risk to Iraqi consumers.
How it was done
The authors wanted to check how much of these three preservatives was present in doogh sold in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. They also wanted to estimate any health risks for people drinking it.
They collected doogh samples during winter and summer in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq. They measured the three preservatives using a lab method called HPLC-UV. They then used computer simulations to estimate health risks for consumers.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work measured preservatives in one city in Iraq, so it cannot show what levels are like elsewhere.
- Computer simulations estimate risk but cannot measure actual health effects in real people over time.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Sulaimani, Iraq; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and natamycin levels in doogh from Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq and health risk assessment
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Muhammad Abdulla S, Aslani R, Zarghi MH, Sadighara P, Fathabad AE (2025). Sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and natamycin levels in doogh from Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq and health risk assessment. Food additives & contaminants. Part B, Surveillance. doi:10.1080/19393210.2025.2478422PubMed 40116763DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error