Sodium benzoate

What the evidence says

• Can form benzene with vitamin CStrong evidence

  Benzoates can form small amounts of benzene in drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), especially with heat or light. [1]

• Linked to hyperactivity in childrenEmerging evidence

  Sodium benzoate was part of the additive mixes that increased hyperactivity in children in a 2007 randomized trial; its separate effect was not tested. [2]

• Low concernStrong evidence

  EFSA (2016) kept a group ADI of 5 mg/kg body weight for benzoic acid and benzoates. [3]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Popular products that list sodium benzoate

335 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list sodium benzoate. The 12 most scanned:

• Dr Pepper Dr Pepper · 12 fl oz (355 mL) Score 19 out of 100 Bad
• Soda Lemon-lime Sprite · 12 fl oz (355 mL) Score 34 out of 100 Poor
• Soy Sauce Kikkoman · 296 mL Score 76 out of 100 Good
• Mountain Dew Mountain Dew · 12 fl oz (355 mL) Score 8 out of 100 Bad
• Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 18 oz Score 6 out of 100 Bad
• Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 37 g Score 6 out of 100 Bad
• Original Syrup Log Cabin · 710 mL Score 13 out of 100 Bad
• Dr Pepper Dr Pepper · 20 oz (1.25 PT) (591 mL) Score 12 out of 100 Bad
• Barbecue Sauce Sweet Baby Ray's · 37 g Score 6 out of 100 Bad
• Asiago Caesar Dressing Briannas · 12 fl oz/355 mL Score 8 out of 100 Bad
• Mountain Dew Mountain Dew · 20 oz Score 8 out of 100 Bad
• Fruit Chewy Cookies Newtons · 1 × 10 oz Score 11 out of 100 Bad

Diets and allergens

Vegan

Yes

Vegetarian

Yes

Gluten-free

Yes

For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.