Potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate levels in Iraqi drinks
What it found
In drinks sold in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate were found at levels the authors judged acceptable for adults and children.
The risk estimates came from a computer simulation, not from measuring people's health.
What they found
Sodium benzoate levels
The average sodium benzoate level was 103.82 ± 25.02 mg/L in carbonated soft drinks, 70.64 ± 14.29 mg/L in energy drinks, and 77.86 ± 33.69 mg/L in fruit juices.
Potassium sorbate levels
The average potassium sorbate level was below the limit of detection in carbonated soft drinks, 22.92 ± 3.88 mg/L in energy drinks, and 118.48 ± 34.96 mg/L in fruit juices.
Within standard limits
The sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate levels in the samples were within the standard limits set by the Codex.
Risk estimates
The hazard quotient values for sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in all the drink samples were below one, which the authors call acceptable.
What the authors conclude
“Considering our findings, it appears that SB and PS levels in carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, and fruit juices are not associated with a safety risk to Iraqi consumers.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate levels in carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks and fruit juices are not associated with a safety risk to Iraqi consumers.
How it was done
The authors wanted to check how much sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate were in drinks sold locally and what health risk those amounts might pose to adults and children.
They measured sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate in carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks and fruit juices from Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq, using high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector. They then used Monte Carlo simulations to estimate health risks for adults and children.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study measured preservative levels in drinks and used computer simulations to estimate risk. It did not track anyone's health over time, so it cannot show whether these drinks cause or prevent any health problem.
- The risk estimates are based on the amounts found in these drinks and on assumptions built into the simulation, so they may not apply to drinks from other places or to people with different drinking habits.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
- Authors work at
- University of Sulaimani, Iraq; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate in Some Beverages in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Health Risk Assessment Study by Monte Carlo Simulation
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Muhammad Abdulla S, Aslani R, Zarghi MH, et al (2025). Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate in Some Beverages in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Health Risk Assessment Study by Monte Carlo Simulation. Journal of food protection. doi:10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100516PubMed 40274023DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error