Sodium Benzoate
Last reviewed October 18, 2026 · Evidence strength: Limited · How we grade evidence
In plain words: Sodium benzoate keeps sodas, juices, pickles and sauces from spoiling. There's no good evidence it causes cancer or heart disease. Two real issues: in a large UK trial, drinks mixing it with artificial dyes made some kids more hyperactive, and when it's paired with vitamin C in a drink stored warm or in sunlight, tiny amounts of benzene can form. Keeping those drinks cool helps.
Also listed on labels as: Sodium benzoate, Benzoic acid (E210), Potassium benzoate (E212), E211
What is it, and why is it in food?
Sodium benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid, a natural acid also found in cranberries and cinnamon. It stops mold and yeast in acidic foods. It's in sodas, fruit drinks, pickles, salad dressings, sauces and some snack cakes.
What does the science say?
| The popular claim | "Synthetic preservatives such as sodium benzoate raise the risk of cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders, and disrupt the gut microbiome." (Dr. Eric Berg) |
| Our verdict on that claim | Partly supported |
| Evidence strength | Limited: one large trial (benzoate mixed with dyes) plus an FDA drink survey; no human evidence for cancer or heart disease. |
| Kinds of studies | Randomized trial in children, FDA analytical survey, EU review |
- Hyperactivity: In the 2007 Southampton trial, drink mixes containing artificial colors plus sodium benzoate made 3-year-olds and 8- to 9-year-olds slightly more hyperactive. Benzoate was in both mixes, so its own effect can't be separated from the dyes.1
- Benzene: Benzoate plus vitamin C (ascorbic or erythorbic acid) can form trace benzene, a known human carcinogen, especially with heat and light. FDA tested 199 drinks: the vast majority had none or less than 5 parts per billion (the drinking-water limit), and the few higher ones were reformulated.2
- Cancer, heart, brain, gut: We found no human evidence for these claims.
What do regulators say?
- FDA: GRAS, up to 0.1% in food.3
- EFSA (2016) found no genotoxicity or cancer concern and set a safe daily limit of 5 mg per kg of body weight. It noted that toddlers and children who drink a lot of flavored drinks could go over it.4
Who should be careful?
- Kids who drink a lot of soda or fruit drinks may exceed the safe daily limit, according to EFSA.
- Kids sensitive to additives: drinks that combine benzoate and artificial dyes are the ones studied in the hyperactivity trial.
How common is it in US foods?
In our check of USDA's Branded Foods database, 22,618 of 438,129 US packaged foods with an ingredient list name sodium benzoate or another benzoate (about 5.2%, or roughly 1 in 19).5 It shows up most often in: soda (2,816); pickles, olives, peppers & relishes (2,347); cakes, cupcakes, snack cakes (1,915); ketchup, mustard, bbq & cheese sauce (1,186); dips & salsa (1,001). These are label records companies sent to USDA, mostly in 2021 to 2023, so some products have changed since. Counts come from a text match of ingredient lists and are approximate.
Swaps and tips for families
- Store drinks that list both a benzoate and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) somewhere cool and out of the sun.
- Water, milk and plain sparkling water skip it entirely.
- If your child drinks colored, preserved drinks daily, cutting back covers both the dyes and the benzoate.
Beyond the plate: related non-food exposures
Benzoates are also used in mouthwash, cosmetics and some medicines. Most of your benzene exposure comes from car exhaust, gasoline fumes and cigarette smoke, not drinks.
Frequently asked questions
Is sodium benzoate bad for you?
It's allowed with a safe daily limit, and there's no good evidence it causes cancer. The two real issues are a hyperactivity signal (when mixed with dyes) and trace benzene in some drinks with vitamin C.
Does sodium benzoate turn into benzene?
It can, in small amounts, when combined with vitamin C, especially with heat and light. FDA found most drinks had none or very little, and high ones were reformulated.
Does sodium benzoate cause hyperactivity?
In a large trial, drinks with benzoate plus artificial colors made some kids slightly more hyperactive. Benzoate's own effect couldn't be separated from the dyes.
Related guides
Sources
Every source below was checked against PubMed, the publisher or the official page by our research team in October 2026.
- Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 2007. PubMed 17825405 · doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61306-3
- Survey results of benzene in soft drinks and other beverages by headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2008. PubMed 18072742 · doi:10.1021/jf072479l
- 21 CFR 184.1733 Sodium benzoate. Link
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of benzoic acid (E 210), sodium benzoate (E 211), potassium benzoate (E 212) and calcium benzoate (E 213) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 2016. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4433
- FoodData Central, Branded Foods dataset (release 2026-04-30). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 2026. Link
This guide is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from your doctor, pediatrician, allergist or registered dietitian. If you think you or your child reacted to a food, talk to a health professional. Research changes; we review these pages when new evidence or rules come out. Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].