Sodium Benzoate | Should You Avoid It?
What I’ve learned:
➡️ generally considered safe in low concentrations
➡️ most concerns come from how it’s used and what it’s combined with
➡️ for me, ingestion vs topical use matters here
This is just a starting point... I go into more detail below ⬇️
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Sodium benzoate is a preservative, and like most preservatives, it’s used to prevent things like mold or bacterial growth in products. This is another ingredient that I don’t personally look at as completely black and white.
Sodium benzoate is not something I’m overly concerned about in small amounts, unless someone has a sensitivity or allergy to it. It’s typically used at low percentages, which is why it’s not something I’m overly concerned about in that context.
That being said, there are a few things I personally pay attention to......
One of the main concerns comes from how it interacts with other ingredients:
➡️ For example, when sodium benzoate is combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) under certain conditions, like heat or light, it has the potential to form benzene.
That doesn’t mean it always happens, but it’s something worth being aware of depending on the formulation and storage.
It can also be irritating in certain situations, especially around sensitive areas:
➡️ For example, I wouldn’t personally use something like this around the eyes (babies or adults), especially in something like wipes
Where I personally draw the line is ingestion. Even though it’s approved for use in food, it’s not something I want to be consuming regularly if I can avoid it. For me, it just comes back to reducing overall exposure.
What I personally look for
- low concentrations in products
- thoughtful formulations (not unnecessary combinations)
- brands that are transparent about their ingredients
- products that combine it with ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- use around sensitive areas like the eyes
- ingesting it regularly through processed foods
At the end of the day, this isn’t an ingredient I avoid across the board... But it’s also not something I want showing up everywhere, especially in products I’m ingesting.
As always, it comes down to context, frequency, and how it’s being used.
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Want to keep digging? I’ve broken down a few other ingredients like this too...
Sorbitol → HERE
Synthetic Ingredients → HERE
I break down ingredients and share low-tox swaps in a simple, no-overwhelm way. I personally check every ingredient list before I share anything, so you can feel confident in what you’re choosing. Mom of 3, so I keep things realistic.
If you want to see what I use and recommend, you can browse my Top Picks here →