Comparing E211 - Sodium benzoate vs E284 - Boric acid
Overview
Synonyms
Products
Found in 16,173 products
Found in 7 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 3 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.
Is orthoboric acid the same as boric acid?
Yes—orthoboric acid (also called boracic acid) is the same compound as boric acid (H3BO3), designated as E284.
How does orthoboric acid poison work on insects?
It acts as a slow-acting stomach poison and desiccant: ingested boric acid disrupts the insect gut and enzyme function, and contact can damage the exoskeleton, leading to dehydration and death.
How does orthoboric acid work?
As a food additive (E284), it functions as a preservative by inhibiting microbial growth in certain tightly restricted uses (e.g., caviar in some regions). Outside food, it serves as a mild antiseptic and a slow-acting insecticidal desiccant/stomach poison.
How long does orthoboric acid kill ants?
After ingesting bait, individual ants typically die within 24–48 hours; noticeable colony reduction often appears in 3–7 days, with full control taking 1–3 weeks depending on species and bait formulation.
How much orthoboric acid must be ingested to be harmful?
Acute harm generally requires gram-level doses; case reports suggest about 15–20 g may be potentially lethal for adults (with much lower amounts posing serious risk to children). For long-term exposure, a commonly cited upper level for boron is 10 mg/day (≈57 mg/day as boric acid) for adults.