An allergy to Sodium Benzoate (E211) can be a challenging allergy to manage. Sodium benzoate (also shown as E211 on labels) is a preservative used in many foods and beverages and can be difficult to avoid.
Sodium Benzoate is both a Naturally produced chemical and a chemically produced item. The natural form of it can be found in Stone fruit, berries, pumpkin and even some spices. The chemical form is created by reacting sodium hydroxide and benzoic acid.
It is often found in soft drinks, fruit juices, cordials, sports drinks, jam, pickles and chocolate but can also be found in less obvious items like cosmetics, medicines and vaccines.
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C7H5NaO2 |
| Molar mass | 144.10 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | white or colorless crystalline powder |
| Odor | odorless |
| Density | 1.497 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 410 °C (770 °F; 683 K) |
| Solubility in water | 62.69 g/100 mL (0 °C) 62.78 g/100 mL (15 °C) 62.87 g/100 mL (30 °C) 71.11 g/100 mL (100 °C)[1] |