1. Sodium benzoate (E211), also called benzoate of soda, is a preservative and has bacteriostatic and fungistatic effects at low ph (acidic) conditions and is used to preserve foods such as salad dressings, carbonated drinks, jams, fruit juices, pickles, condiments, alcohol-based mouthwash and even cough syrups like Robitussin.
2. In the presence of heat or light sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate can combine with ascorbic acid (vitamin C, E300) to form benzene, a known carcinogen.
3. Professor Peter Piper of the University of Sheffield claims that sodium benzoate by itself can damage and inactivate vital parts of DNA in a cell’s mitochondria which produces the energy for cells.
4. Sodium benzoate can create an increased retention of water which is an issue if you have heart disease according to drug monographs.
5. Sodium benzoate can increase your chances of side effects if you have cancer.
6. Some recent research has found that artificial food colors combined with SODIUM BENZOATE may adversely effect the behaviour patterns of children. The work published in the medical journal Lancet outlines work at the University of Southampton (U.K.) which found that a significant number of the about 250 kids studied displayed hyperactive behavior when given food colors + sodium benzoate in controlled double blind conditions. This research has shown the adverse effect for a specific set of food colors plus sodium benzoate, a preservative. It does not PROVE artificial food colors alone or sodium benzoate alone are a problem BUT WHY TAKE A CHANCE WITH YOUR KIDS HEALTH?.
7. My family and I are avoiding products containing sodium benzoate preservative when possible.
For more info subscribe to a Healthy Choice Products newsletter and read some of our other blogs and upcoming blogs:
- Quick Reality Check – Artificial Food Colorings – avoid when possible
- Quick Reality Check – Vitamin C – Miracle Vitamin?
- Quick Reality Check – The scary stuff in shampoo
- Over 14,000 health products contain at least 1 carcinogen
- Body Wash dries skin and expensive moisturizer is the antidote!
- You are what you “wash with”
- Sunscreen Choices – Simple Health Aid or Toxic Soup
Wayne Conrad
