Sodium benzoate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sodium benzoate | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| IUPAC name |
|
| Other names | E211, benzoate of soda |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [] |
| PubChem | |
| RTECS number | DH6650000 |
| SMILES |
|
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | NaC6H5CO2 |
| Molar mass | 144.11 g/mol |
| Density | 1.44 g/cm3 |
| Melting point |
300 °C |
| Boiling point |
N/A |
| Hazards | |
| Flash point | 100 °C |
| Autoignition temperature |
500 °C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references |
|
Sodium benzoate (E211) has the chemical formula NaC6H5CO2. It is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and exists in this form when dissolved in water. It can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid.
Contents |
[edit] Uses
Sodium benzoate is a preservative. It is bacteriostatic and fungistatic under acidic conditions. It is used most prevalently in acidic foods such as salad dressings (vinegar), carbonated drinks (carbonic acid), jams and fruit juices (citric acid), pickles (vinegar), and condiments. It is also found in alcohol-based mouthwash and silver polish. It can also be found in cough syrups like Robitussin.[1] Sodium benzoate is declared on a product label as 'sodium benzoate' or E211.
It is also used in fireworks as a fuel in whistle mix, a powder which imparts a whistling noise when compressed into a tube and ignited fully.
It is found naturally in cranberries, prunes, greengage plums, cinnamon, ripe cloves, and apples. Concentration as a preservative is limited by the FDA in the U.S. to 0.1% by weight though natural cranberries and other fruit varieties contain levels of sodium benzoate approaching this limit.[2] The International Programme on Chemical Safety found no adverse effects in humans at doses of 647–825 mg/kg of body weight per day.[3][4]
Cats have a significantly lower tolerance against benzoic acid and its salts than rats and mice.[5] Sodium benzoate is, however, allowed as an animal food additive at up to 0.1%, according to AFCO's official publication.[6]
[edit] Mechanism of food preservation
The mechanism starts with the absorption of benzoic acid into the cell. If the intracellular pH changes to 5 or lower, the anaerobic fermentation of glucose through phosphofructokinase is decreased by 95%.[7]
[edit] Safety and health
In combination with ascorbic acid (vitamin C, E300), sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate may form benzene[8], a known carcinogen. Heat, light and shelf life can affect the rate at which benzene is formed.
Professor 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. Mitochondria consume oxygen to generate ATP, the body's energy currency. If they are damaged due to disease, the cell malfunctions and may enter apoptosis. There are many illnesses now tied to DNA damage, including Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases, but above all, the aging process in general.[9][10][11][12][13]
[edit] Hyperactivity
Research published in 2007 for the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggests that certain artificial colours, when paired with sodium benzoate (E211) may be linked to hyperactive behaviour. The results were inconsistent regarding sodium benzoate, so the FSA recommended further study. [14][15][16].
Professor Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, and author of the report, said: "This has been a major study investigating an important area of research. The results suggest that consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children.
"However, parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders. We know that many other influences are at work but this at least is one a child can avoid."
Two mixtures of additives were tested in the research:
Mix A:
Mix B:
- Sunset yellow (E110)
- Quinoline yellow (E104)
- Carmoisine (E122)
- Allura red (E129)
- Sodium benzoate (E211)
Sodium benzoate was included in both mixes, but the effects observed were not consistent. The Food Standards Agency therefore considers that, if real, the observed increases in hyperactive behaviour were more likely to be linked to one or more of the specific colours tested.
On 10 April 2008, the Foods Standard Agency called for a voluntary removal of the colours (but not sodium benzoate) by 2009.[17] In addition, it recommended that there should be action to phase them out in food and drink in the European Union (EU) over a specified period.[18]
In response to consumer insistence on a more natural product and E211's links to DNA damage and ADHD, the Coca Cola Company is in the process of phasing Sodium Benzoate out of Diet Coke. The company has stated that it plans to remove E211 from its other products — including Sprite, Fanta, and Oasis — as soon as a satisfactory alternative is discovered.[19]
[edit] Other health effects
People who suffer from asthma, or who have recurrent urticaria, may be sensitive to sodium benzoate and have allergic reactions. Sodium benzoate and tartrazine (E102) exacerbate the condition in between 10 and 40 percent of patients with chronic urticaria, and possibly a higher proportion still of aspirin sensitive individuals.[20]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Sodium benzoate in Robitussin cough
- ^ Clague, J.A. & Fellers, C.R. (1934). "Relation of benzoic acid content and other constituents of cranberries to keeping quality". Plant Physiology (9): 631–6.
- ^ Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 26: Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate
- ^ Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Bindu Nair (2001). "Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate". Int J Tox 20 (Suppl 3): 23–50.
- ^ Bedford PG, Clarke EG (January 1972). "Experimental benzoic acid poisoning in the cat". Vet. Rec. 90 (3): 53–8. PMID 4672555.
- ^ AFCO (2004). Official Publication. pp. 262.
- ^ Krebs HA, Wiggins D, Stubbs M, Sols A, Bedoya F (September 1983). "Studies on the mechanism of the antifungal action of benzoate". Biochem. J. 214 (3): 657–63. PMID 6226283.
- ^ FDA, 2006. "Data on Benzene in Soft Drinks and Other Beverages, " United States Food and Drug Administration. Accessed June 2nd at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/benzdata.html
- ^ Martin Hickman Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health The Independent on Sunday 27 May 2007
- ^ Martin Hickman E211 Revealed: Evidence highlights new fear over drinks additive The Independent on Sunday 27 May 2007
- ^ Leading article: Children deserve our doubts The Independent on Sunday 27 May 2007
- ^ Chris Mercer Fresh health fears hit benzoate in soft drinks BeverageDaily 29 May 2007
- ^ Piper PW (December 1999). "Yeast superoxide dismutase mutants reveal a pro-oxidant action of weak organic acid food preservatives". Free Radic. Biol. Med. 27 (11-12): 1219–27. PMID 10641714. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0891-5849(99)00147-1.
- ^ Food Standards Agency issues revised advice on certain artificial colours 6 September 2007
- ^ Food Colorings and Hyperactivity "Myomancy" 7 September 2007
- ^ Agency revises advice on certain artificial colours Food Standards Agency 11 September 2007
- ^ BBC Europe-wide food colour ban call 10 April 2008
- ^ FSA Board discusses colours advice 10 April 2008
- ^ The Daily Mail DNA Damage Fear 24 May 2008
- ^ E for additives, Maurice Hanssen with Jill Marsden, Thorsons 1987
[edit] External links
- International Programme on Chemical Safety - Benzoic Acid and Sodium Benzoate report
- Kubota K, Ishizaki T (1991). "Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of benzoic acid following oral administration of sodium benzoate to humans". Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 41 (4): 363–8. PMID 1804654. "Although the maximum rate of biotransformation of benzoic acid to hippuric acid varied between 17.2 and 28.8 mg.kg-1.h-1 among the six individuals, the mean value (23.0 mg.kg-1.h-1) was fairly close to that provided by daily maximum dose (0.5 g.kg-1.day-1) recommended in the treatment of hyperammonaemia in patients with inborn errors of ureagenesis".
- Andersen A (2006). "Final report on the safety assessment of benzaldehyde". Int. J. Toxicol. 25 (Suppl 1): 11–27. doi:. PMID 16835129. http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=article&doi=10.1080/10915810600716612&magic=pubmed||1B69BA326FFE69C3F0A8F227DF8201D0.
- Sodium Benzoate A Cause of Hyper Kids (TIME.com)
- Safety data for sodium benzoate
- The Ketchup Conundrum
|
|||||
