As a preservative, you will find benzoic acid in beer, chewing gums, sweets, ice cream, jams, jellies, maraschino cherries and margarine. You will also find benzoic acid used in processed foods such as cheeses and meats. Benzoic acid does have several side effects associated with its use.
The highest risk groups for experiencing these side effects include children, individuals sensitive to aspirin and individuals with liver conditions such as hepatitis.
Side effects of benzoic acid include gastrointestinal irritation, asthma, rashes and itching and irritation of your skin and eyes. What Foods Contain Benzoic Acid? By Jessica Jacobs. Jessica Jacobs. Jessica Jacobs is a registered dietitian and professional writer, contributing to "Fitness Magazine" since She received a B.
Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in some over-the-counter and prescription medications, particularly in liquid medicines like cough syrup.
Additionally, it can be a lubricant in pill manufacturing and makes tablets transparent and smooth, helping them break down rapidly after you swallow them 1.
Lastly, larger amounts of sodium benzoate may be prescribed to treat elevated blood levels of ammonia. Ammonia is a byproduct of protein breakdown, and blood levels may become dangerously high in certain medical conditions 2. Sodium benzoate is commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care items, such as hair products, baby wipes, toothpaste , and mouthwash 2.
It also has industrial uses. One of its biggest applications is to deter corrosion, such as in coolants for car engines 2 , 7. Sodium benzoate is a versatile chemical with preservative, medicinal, and other functions. Some people are generally leery of all chemical additives, including sodium benzoate. Preliminary studies raise questions about its safety, but more research is needed. A large concern over the use of sodium benzoate is its ability to convert to benzene, a known carcinogen.
Benzene can form in soda and other drinks that contain both sodium benzoate and vitamin C ascorbic acid 8. Notably, diet beverages are more prone to benzene formation, as the sugar in regular sodas and fruit drinks may reduce its formation 9. Other factors, including exposure to heat and light, as well as longer storage periods, can increase benzene levels 9.
In , 10 out of sodas and other fruit drinks tested by the FDA contained more than 5 parts per billion ppb of benzene — which is the limit for safe drinking water set by the US Environmental Protection Agency EPA 8. Particularly, fruit-flavored diet sodas and juice drinks exceeded 5 ppb of benzene. Since then, these ten drinks have either been reformulated to yield acceptable levels or have had sodium benzoate removed entirely. Still, long-term studies assessing the relationship between regularly consuming low levels of benzene and cancer risk are lacking 9.
Studies suggest that sodium benzoate may increase your risk of inflammation, oxidative stress, obesity, ADHD, and allergies. It may also convert to benzene, a potential carcinogen, but the low levels found in beverages are deemed safe.
The chemical reduces high blood levels of the waste product ammonia, such as in people with liver disease or inherited urea cycle disorders — conditions that limit the excretion of ammonia via urine 17 , Furthermore, scientists have identified ways by which sodium benzoate may have medicinal effects, such as by binding unwanted compounds or affecting the activity of certain enzymes that increase or decrease levels of other compounds 19 , Despite potential benefits, sodium benzoate can have side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain 2 , Additionally, medicinal doses of sodium benzoate may deplete your body of the amino acid carnitine, which plays a critical role in energy production.
This may make it necessary to take a carnitine supplement 29 , For these reasons, sodium benzoate is only given as a prescription medication in carefully controlled doses and with ongoing monitoring. Sodium benzoate medicine can be used to treat high blood ammonia levels. It is also being studied for potential use in other conditions, including schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis. Easily soluble and when mixed with water produces benzoic acid.
Potentially manufactured from the petrochemical, and human carcinogen, Benzene. As a result of its natural occurrence, synthetic mass production and widespread use, these compounds are largely distributed in the environment and found in water, soil, and air.
Consequently, human exposure to them can be high, common, and lengthy. When sodium benzoate is combined with vitamin C, as in soft drinks, juices and jams, then exposed to high temperatures or light, the cancer-causing chemical Benzene can form.
See A-Z Directory for Benzene.
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