What Is Sodium Benzoate?
Sodium benzoate is a preservative. The FDA's regulation for it, 21 CFR 184.1733, sits in the part covering direct food substances affirmed as generally recognized as safe. It describes sodium benzoate as the salt produced by neutralizing benzoic acid with sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, says the salt is not found to occur naturally, and says it is used as an antimicrobial agent and as a flavoring agent and adjuvant, at levels not to exceed good manufacturing practice, with current usage resulting in a maximum level of 0.1 percent in food.
The known concern is benzene. The FDA says benzene can form at very low levels in some beverages that contain both benzoate salts and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or erythorbic acid, and that exposure to heat and light can stimulate its formation.
In a survey of almost 200 soft drinks and other beverages from 2005 through May 2007, the FDA found benzene above 5 parts per billion, the EPA's limit for drinking water, in ten products, nine of which contained both added benzoate salts and ascorbic acid. The FDA says the manufacturers reformulated those products, and that samples of the reformulated versions tested below 1.5 ppb.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Regulatory filingUnder 21 CFR 184.1733, sodium benzoate is produced by neutralizing benzoic acid with sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, and the salt is not found to occur naturally. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1733 (eCFR) ↗
- Regulatory filingUnder 21 CFR 184.1733, sodium benzoate is used as an antimicrobial agent and as a flavoring agent and adjuvant. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1733 (eCFR) ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA regulation says sodium benzoate is used in food at levels not to exceed good manufacturing practice, and current usage results in a maximum level of 0.1 percent in food. US FDA, 21 CFR 184.1733 (eCFR) ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA says benzene can form at very low levels in some beverages containing both benzoate salts and ascorbic acid or erythorbic acid, and heat and light can stimulate its formation. US FDA ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA says products found above 5 ppb benzene in its 2005 to 2007 beverage survey were reformulated, and samples of the reformulated products tested below 1.5 ppb. US FDA ↗
- Government sourceThe FDA says benzene above 5 ppb was found in ten of almost 200 beverages it tested, nine of them containing both added benzoate salts and ascorbic acid. US FDA ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.