What is the purpose of sodium benzoate in food?
In the food industry, sodium benzoate is used to prevent spoilage from harmful bacteria, yeasts, and molds. It also helps maintain freshness in food by helping to slow or prevent changes in color, flavor, PH, and texture. Other foods that commonly include sodium benzoate include: Salad dressings.
What happens when you mix sodium benzoate and citric acid?
Sodium benzoate is listed among the ingredients in numerous foods because it kills a wide variety of bacteria, yeast and fungi. The most common fear is that using sodium benzoate with citric acid or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can produce benzene, which is highly carcinogenic, and may cause genetic mutations.
Why is sodium benzoate used as a preservative?
Sodium benzoate inhibits the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, mold, and other microbes in food, thus deterring spoilage. It’s particularly effective in acidic foods ( 6 ). Therefore, it’s commonly used in foods, such as soda, bottled lemon juice, pickles, jelly, salad dressing, soy sauce, and other condiments.
What is the mechanism of food preservation by sodium benzoate?
Sodium benzoate preserves food by having anti-fungal properties, protecting foods from invasion by fungi that cause food to spoil and potentially make you sick. Sodium benzoate works by entering the individual cells in the food and balancing its pH level, increasing the overall acidity of the food.
What can I use instead of sodium benzoate?
Acetic acid — also known as vinegar — is a clean-label solution to microbe control, but its pungent flavor makes it unsuitable in many food applications. It is also less effective than the lactic acid and sodium benzoate it replaces.
Is sodium benzoate a paraben?
Examples of organic acids used in the place of Parabens include diazolidinyl urea, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate. If you’re not keen on using Paraben products for your children, look for toothpastes, baby shampoos, and sunscreens that are one hundred percent Paraben-free.
Is sodium benzoate a formaldehyde?
Preservatives like Phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, Neolone, OptiphenPlus, Hydantoin, Glycacil, Natrulon, and benzethonium chloride are all formaldehyde-free.
Is sodium benzoate safe than parabens?
Like the Parabens, it is active against a broad spectrum of microorganisms but its activity against Gram+ bacteria, yeast and mold is not always totally convincing. Sodium Benzoate (and Benzoic Acid), potentially in combination with Potassium Sorbate, is also an acceptable alternative.
Is sodium benzoate banned in any countries?
Sodium Benzoate is not being banned in any country. However, the dose per product is being monitored in the US and Europe.
What is the melting point of sodium benzoate?
410 °C
Why is sodium benzoate banned in Europe?
A 2007 study in the Lancet found that children seem to be more hyperactive after consuming certain food dyes (Red #40, Yellow #5, and Yellow #6) in soda that also contained the preservative sodium benzoate. As a result: The UK banned all three dyes.
Is sodium benzoate baking soda?
Sodium chloride is the common table salt, and has the characteristic salty taste. When looking to limit salt in the diet, this one is easier to spot. Sodium benzoate is a food preservative while sodium bicarbonate is baking soda, which is commonly used in bakeries.
Is sodium benzoate a weak acid?
Sodium benzoate, C6H5COONa, is the salt of a weak acid, benzoic acid, C6H5COOH. A 0.10 molar solution of sodium benzoate has a pH of 8.60 at room temperature.
Is baking soda good for the kidneys?
“A daily dose of baking soda could help patients with chronic kidney disease avoid having to undergo dialysis,” reported The Times . It said that research has found that sodium bicarbonate can dramatically slow the progress of the condition.
Can sodium benzoate kill you?
There is mild concern that sodium benzoate may be linked to cancer, as it can break down into benzene – a known carcinogen. However, the amount of benzene likely to be found in any product containing sodium benzoate is small, and the FDA has found such trace amounts are not directly harmful to human health.
Can you taste sodium benzoate?
The taste of sodium benzoate cannot be detected by around 25 percent of the population, but for those who can taste the chemical, it tends to be perceived as sweet, sour, salty, or sometimes bitter.
How do you dissolve sodium benzoate?
Sodium benzoate is supplied as a white powder or flake. During use, it is mixed dry in bulk liquids where it promptly dissolves. Approximately 1.75 oz (50 g) will readily dissolve in 3 fl oz (100 ml) of water. In contrast, benzoic acid has a significantly lower water solubility profile.
Can sodium benzoate dissolve water?
Sodium benzoate is highly soluble in water (66 g/100 mL at 20 °C).