Comparing E211 - Sodium benzoate vs E246 - Glycolipids
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 16,173 products
Found in 16 products
Search rank & volume
Awareness score
Search volume over time
Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.
Popular questions
Is sodium benzoate bad for you?
Generally no—it's an approved preservative with an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0–5 mg/kg body weight, and typical intakes are well below this. Rare sensitivities (e.g., hives/asthma-like symptoms) can occur, and in vitamin C–containing drinks exposed to heat/light it can form trace benzene, which manufacturers work to minimize.
Is sodium benzoate safe?
Yes—it's authorized by regulators (e.g., FDA, EFSA, JECFA) with an ADI of 0–5 mg/kg body weight and is GRAS in foods up to 0.1%. Those with sensitivities may wish to limit it, and beverages containing both sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid should be protected from heat/light to prevent benzene formation.
Is sodium benzoate safe for skin?
Yes—it's widely used as a cosmetic preservative at low concentrations and is considered safe by regulatory and review bodies. It may occasionally cause mild irritation or sensitization, especially on very sensitive or damaged skin.
Is sodium benzoate bad for hair?
No—at the low levels used to preserve shampoos and conditioners it does not damage hair fibers. As with many preservatives, higher concentrations can irritate the scalp, but consumer products use small amounts.
Is sodium benzoate harmful?
Not at permitted food and cosmetic levels; safety limits (e.g., ADI 0–5 mg/kg body weight) are set to prevent harm. Main concerns are rare intolerance reactions and trace benzene formation in vitamin C–containing drinks under heat/light, which industry monitors and minimizes.
What are the roles of glycoproteins and glycolipids?
In foods, glycolipids (E246) act as surface‑active emulsifiers and stabilizers that help oil and water mix and keep textures uniform; glycoproteins in food ingredients can also aid emulsifying and foaming, but they are not the E-number additive here.
What do glycolipids do?
E246 glycolipids are microbial biosurfactants used to emulsify and stabilize foods and beverages, improving dispersion of fats, flavors, and colors and preventing separation.
Why are glycolipids and glycoproteins important?
They help make products stable and consistent—E246 creates stable emulsions/foams and improves texture, while natural glycoproteins in ingredients can provide complementary stabilization.
Are glycolipids bad for you?
No—E246 is authorized in the EU and considered safe at permitted levels; typical food uses are low and not associated with adverse effects.
Why the roles of glycoproteins and glycolipids?
Because oil and water don’t naturally mix, these molecules lower surface tension and bind at interfaces to keep foods homogeneous; E246 specifically provides this emulsifying/stabilizing function in formulations.