Sodium Benzoate

Sodium benzoate is a preservative bacteriostatic and fungistatic in food, pharmaceutical, and personal care products to prolong shelf life.

Skin contact with sodium benzoate is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing sodium benzoate should result in improvement and/or the resolution of your dermatitis. By law, all products made in the U.S. for topical use have the ingredients listed either on the product package or the box that contains it, so check the labeling of your skincare products for this ingredient. If there is no information ask your pharmacist or call the company directly. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.

• Skincare products/Cosmetics

     -Antiperspirants/Deodorants

     -Hair sprays, gels, tonics, and lotions

     -Soaps/Cleansers

     -Shampoos/Conditioners

     -Moisturizers

     -Make-ups

      -Powders/Sprays

• Pharmaceutical products – bacteriostatic and fungistatic

• Toothpaste/Mouthwash

• Silver polish

• Cough syrups

• Coolant in automobile engines

• Detergents

• Cleaning products

• Fireworks

• Animal foods

• Preservative in foods

     -Carbonated drinks

     -Jams

     -Jellies

     -Margarine

     -Pickles

     -Soft drinks

     -Syrups

     -Salad dressings

     -Fruit juices

     -Condiments

• Benzoate of soda

• Sodium benzoic acid

• Sobenate

• Antimol

• AnE211 (food additive)