Benzoic acid (E210)
- Food Fine
- Cosmetics Caution
What is Benzoic acid (E210)?
Benzoic acid (E210) is a preservative, found naturally in some berries, that stops mould and bacteria in drinks, sauces and pickles. Your body clears it quickly, and normal amounts stay below the safe daily limit. It's fine for most people; a few react to it, and some soft drinks can form trace benzene, which is monitored.
What does Benzoic acid do in cosmetics?
In cosmetics, benzoic acid is a preservative that keeps products free of mould and bacteria. At cosmetic levels it isn't a concern for the body. The caution is for your skin: it can cause brief redness, itching or swelling, especially on damaged skin.
What is Yasno’s verdict on Benzoic acid?
Yasno’s verdict on Benzoic acid: In food: Fine. No meaningful concern at normal amounts. In cosmetics: Caution. Some evidence of a concern, it depends on the amount, or it is genuinely worth knowing. A Caution always has a specific, sourced reason.
Is Benzoic acid allowed in the EU?
EU status of Benzoic acid: In food: Listed in Yasno’s EU regulatory data, with no further details recorded. In cosmetics: Permitted as a preservative in cosmetics (Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). Conditions and limits come from the regulation cited below. Yasno summarises them and does not replace the legal text.
| Where | EU | US |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Listed in Yasno’s EU regulatory data, with no further details recorded | Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS, a US regulatory category) |
| Cosmetics | Permitted as a preservative in cosmetics (Annex V of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009) | Not recorded |
What else is it called?
- Dracylic acid
- benzenecarboxylic acid
- Benzeneformic acid
Sources
- 2016 review of benzoic acid and benzoates, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2016
- Benzoic acid and its salts, Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), 2021
- 2017 Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 2017
Always check the physical label. Yasno describes evidence and regulatory status. It never says a product is free of an allergen or safe for you, and it is not medical advice.
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