what is E211

Let’s continue with the sodium benzoate called E211 in the series where we describe the additives used in foods. Before sharing detailed information about E211, let’s look at what we talked about food additives.

What is sodium benzoate?

Sodium benzoate is a food additive used as a preservative in foods. In fact, it is a chemical salt. It consists of a combination of benzoic acid and sodium hydroxide. It is very effective against molds and yeasts.

Sodium benzoate is one of the E-coded food additives. And it is encoded with the code E211. The FDA has set limits on how much E211 should be added to foods. It is an additive that is considered safe if it is used in specified amounts.

Uses of sodium benzoate in the food industry

Sodium benzoate is one of the most common food preservatives. It is especially effective in foods with high acidity. It can be used in foods such as carbonated drinks, pickles, canned food, soft drink products. Apart from the food sector, it is also widely used in areas such as cosmetics, medicine, hair care products, toothpaste.

Is sodium benzoate harmful?

When we say additives and preservatives, the first thing we question is whether they are harmful. Research has also been done on sodium benzoate. According to the results, it was stated that it may cause allergies for E211. There are also studies on effects such as obesity, cancer, and distraction. However, these studies were not considered sufficient. More work is needed.

As a result, it has been reported that sodium benzoate is currently safe. New research may reveal new results. As informed consumers, we must be good label readers. Thus, we can decide what to consume and what not to consume. By doing so, we can limit the daily intake for some substances. Let’s not forget that too much of anything is bad.