Description

Due to its properties, sodium benzoate is used to preserve food products with an acidic pH, such as fruit pulp and purees, jams, pickles, pickled herring and mackerel, margarine, olives, beer, fruit yogurts, canned vegetables, and salads

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.

Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative to prevent food from molding. It’s added to a wide variety of foods, including mayonnaise, margarine, carbonated drinks, jams and jellies, sauces, and tomato paste.

It helps keep products shelf-stable for at least 2 years from the date of purchase and is used in concentrations of less than 0.5% by volume.

It’s used in other household products, too, including mouthwash, lotion, and as a preservative in some medicines.