What is sodium benzoate?

sodium benzoate is sodium salt, which occurs naturally in some foods, but is also widely used as a chemical preservative. It is mainly used as a food preservative, but is also found in cosmetics, dyes, medicines, industrial environments. Sodium benzoate is a common component in highly processed foods such as carbonated soda, vinegar, fruit juices; in mixed ingredients such as salad bandages; and stop the fermentation process in wines. American food and drug administration (FDA) and branch of health protection in Canada (HPB) state that in low doses it is safe for consumption, although in combination with ascorbic acid is chemical benzene, suspect carcinogen.

in food

sodium benzoate naturally occurs in low levels of fruit such as apples, plums, berries and cranberries and in several sweet spices, including cloves and cinnamon. When adding to food as a chemical preservative, about 75% of people can taste it. Thereforethat it is sodium salt, tasty, bitter or acidic for most people; But others can taste sweet. The FDA currently allows a maximum of 0.1% benzoate in food. Non -alcoholic beverages are a number one source of sodium in the diet. It is not considered toxic and studies do not show any adverse health effects in people under normal conditions.

Further use

6 This is usually done to prevent growth in products. It is also used in medicinal syrups, ointments and pills. Industrial, sodium benzoate acts as a corrosion inhibitor and is used to make many different types of rust metals. It is commonly used in metal cans containing liquid foods or household cleaning products, production machines that are exposed to moisture and in vehicles.

Safety concerns

combined with ascorbic acid - also known JAKO vitamin C or citric acid - converts converted to benzene, reported that it causes leukemia, damage to DNA, damage to mitochondria in cells, cell death and disorder of attention hyperactivity (ADHD). Other studies show that sodium benzoate mixed with a certain artificial food color causes hyperactivity in children. Since many people consume non -alcoholic beverages regularly and the preservative is usually unnoticed in most diets, the benzene level can be very high in heavy soda drinkers.

Food tests and the resulting actions

In 2005, the FDA tested almost 200 soft drinks and related benzene drinks and found that only ten, scored higher than the recommended contribution. More than half tested negative on benzene or the levels contained under the post. In response to consumers' concerns, however, non -alcoholic beverages in the US also began eliminated colors from their drinks to lower benzene.In 2009, the Foods Standard Agency (FSAB) agency began to remove artificial food staining from food in 2009.

Reducing exposure

those who want to reduce benzoates exposure should carefully read product labels and avoid those who have benzent, benzoate or benzoic acid; Especially in combination with ascorbic acid, citric acid and vitamin C components. It may also be good to limit soft drinks and processed fruit juices, especially for children.