Sodium Benzoate

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Preservatives are a substance used to preserve foodstuffs, wood, or other materials against decay. Preservatives can be man- made or natural. There are many types of preservatives. There are sorbates(200-203), benzoates(210-218), sulphites(220-228), and propionates(280-283). Nitrates can be classified too as preservatives(249-250). The numbers are a way of simplifying and organizing different types of preservatives.The preservatives are labeled on the labeling sticker. Benzoates have two versions of itself. Potassium benzoate and sodium benzoate. “Potassium benzoate (E212), the potassium salt of benzoic acid, is a food preservative that inhibits the growth of mold, yeast and some bacteria.”(Wikipedia March 31, 2016). It is found in mostly acidic …show more content…

“Sodium benzoate is produced by the neutralization of benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide.Sodium benzoate can also be prepared by adding benzoic acid to a hot concentrated solution of sodium carbonate until effervescence ceases. The solution is then evaporated, cooled and allowed to crystallize or evaporate to dryness, and then granulated.”(Wikipedia October 16, …show more content…

“Research published in 2007 for the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggests that certain artificial colors, when paired with sodium benzoate, may be linked to hyperactive behavior... The Food Standards Agency concluded that the observed increases in hyperactive behavior, if real, were more likely to be linked to the artificial colors than to sodium benzoate… Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, said, “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..Sodium benzoate may trigger or exacerbate symptoms or episodes of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition is most common in children but it can be present in adults as well, and affected individuals may be forgetful, have difficulty concentrating and following directions or display impulsiveness.”(Wikipedia October 16, 2016). This can not only happen to children but to adults too, that's

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