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Sodium benzoate is often hidden in the composition of products under the code name E211. It has a wide range of applications – from the food industry to the production of cosmetics and pyrotechnic shells. The main property of this additive is the suppression of microflora: bacteria, yeast and fungi. As a food antibiotic, the substance is used to increase the shelf life of products. By its action, it seems to preserve food, which is why it is called a preservative. The most surprising thing about the history and use of sodium benzoate is that, although it is recognized by the international community as a dangerous food additive, it is nevertheless not prohibited at the legislative level in Ukraine, Russia, the USA and many EU countries.
Описание добавки, способы её синтезирования и механизм действия
Preservative E211 has the form of a white powder, odorless and tasteless, which dissolves well in water. It is obtained as a result of the reaction of benzoic acid and sodium hydroxide: the second substance neutralizes the first, during which the salt is released. The parent element, benzoic acid, is found in small amounts in cinnamon, apples, prunes, and does not pose a threat to the body. Initially, experiments to remove a cheap food preservative began in the 19th century. Then, for this purpose, salicylic acid was used – an expensive, and therefore unprofitable substance for manufacturers.
Sodium benzoate has the ability to inhibit the growth of mold and yeast microorganisms, bacteria, fungi. Cells lose their ability to produce enzymes and break down starch. Redox reactions also stop, and, as a result, any microflora loses its ability to reproduce.
Industrial applications
An effective, powerful preservative and antibiotic used in medicines as an expectorant, as well as in the manufacture of pyrotechnic devices, in particular in rockets, to give them a characteristic sound when taking off.
Due to the pronounced antibacterial properties, the substance is often used in the manufacture of perfumery and hygiene products – shampoos, gels, toothpastes.
The aviation industry uses sodium benzoate as a protective agent for aluminum parts. Tobacco products also contain this substance. This nutritional supplement can be found in the following foods:
- meat, vegetable and fish canned food;
- ketchups, mayonnaises, sauces;
- margarine;
- soy sauce;
- sausages and cheeses;
- spices and seasonings, marinades;
- alcohol;
- semi-finished products and ready-made salads.
Of course, the main area where sodium benzoate is used is the production of food products with a long shelf life.
Benefit or harm: what threatens the use of preservative E211
Surprisingly, sodium benzoate is ubiquitous in food production and is a permitted food additive in most countries. Why is it amazing? Because, according to international standards, according to the results of numerous studies, the substance was classified as harmful and dangerous to health. Despite this, manufacturers are not going to abandon the additive, which can cause significant harm to humans. This is probably due to the fact that it has not yet been possible to synthesize a full-fledged and inexpensive replacement, and manufacturing corporations do not want to lose profits from sales of long-term storage products. It becomes clear that there is no need to talk about the benefits of this sodium salt at all – it does not exist. But there is something to be said about the dangers of the substance.
The substance is a toxin and an allergen, it can provoke hives. It should not be used by people who are allergic to aspirin. For asthmatics, a “meeting” with benzoate threatens with an attack of suffocation and convulsions.
Its main feature is that it is not excreted from the body, but is deposited and gradually accumulates.
The additive has a similar effect on the cells of the human body, as well as on bacteria, that is, it disrupts redox processes in them, the processes of formation of enzymes and the breakdown of fats.
Due to its long-term use, cirrhosis of the liver, Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, neurodegenerative diseases can develop. Sodium benzoate accelerates the aging process.
For children, the use of products with the preservative E211 in the composition is not recommended at all, since the substance contributes to the appearance of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a decrease in intellectual abilities.
Сочетание с другими химическими добавками в продуктах
In addition to the fact that the preservative itself is not safe, in the company with some, sometimes harmless substances, its harmful effect can be amplified many times over. So, for example, a mixture of E211 with vitamin C forms a powerful carcinogen – benzene. This substance is not excreted from the body, but accumulating in it, becomes the cause of the appearance of cancerous tumors and the development of leukemia.
Together with another preservative, potassium sorbate, E211 is often used in the manufacture of dairy products. Such a duet exposes the body to a double blow of allergens and toxins, contributes to the appearance of disorders of the nervous system, tumors.
In combination with tartrazine, all the harmful properties of sodium benzoate are enhanced.
The use of E211 with dyes E110, E104, E122 and a number of other similar substances negatively affects the well-being and development of children, therefore, in the EU countries, the issue of banning the use of these additives together is now relevant.
Regulations for substance content
The International Chemical Safety Program, which studied the issue of the use of the substance E211, through experiments on laboratory animals, came to the conclusion that the amount of food additive at the rate of 640-825 mg per 1 kilogram of adult weight is acceptable and practically does not harm health. However, the use of several grams per 1 kg of weight for some time can already cause various deviations and diseases.
Уровень допустимой концентрации вещества в продуктах обычно достигает от 0,15 до 0,25%.
Интересно, что бензоат натрия попадает в человеческий организм не только с пищей – ежедневно человек вдыхает до 220 мг бензоата из загрязненного воздуха.
Sodium benzoate is a preservative and antibiotic that acts on the cells of bacteria, fungi and yeast organisms. Its properties are so powerful that almost any product with a long shelf life is made with it.
Однако в течение последних десятилетий всё же появилась тенденция к сокращению использования пищевой добавки Е211 в производстве продуктов питания. На сегодняшний день ведутся исследования с целью синтезировать вещество с аналогичными свойствами, но более безвредное. Пока же этого открытия не произошло, в составе многих продуктов на полках магазинов скрывается опасный компонент, способный вызывать онкологические болезни, мутации клеток, болезни почек и печени, аллергические реакции, приступы удушья и нарушения развития у детей. Потребителю остаётся лишь внимательно изучать составы еды, которая попадёт на его стол, чтобы по возможности обезопасить себя от вредной пищевой добавки.