Tag: Benzene formation

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for benzoic acid and its salts is set at 0-5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. This regulatory guideline addresses a common consumer concern: can you ingest benzoic acid? The answer is yes, within prescribed limits, as it is a widely used and regulated food preservative.

In 2005, the FDA found that 10 out of 200 soft drinks and fruit beverages tested contained more than 5 parts per billion of benzene, a known carcinogen, which can form from the combination of sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid. These findings highlight a critical aspect of understanding the negative effect of sodium benzoate as a food additive. While generally recognized as safe within regulated limits, this preservative has potential health implications that deserve closer examination.

Back in the 1990s, trace amounts of benzene were discovered in some soft drinks, sparking significant public concern. This discovery raised the critical question: Do vitamin C and sodium benzoate create benzene, and if so, under what conditions?