Comparing E211 - Sodium benzoate vs E405 - Propane-1‚2-diol alginate

Synonyms
E211
Sodium benzoate
E405
Propane-1‚2-diol alginate
Propylene glycol alginate
Products

Found in 16,173 products

Found in 757 products

Search rank & volume
#6838.2K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#290880 / mo🇺🇸U.S.
Awareness score

×0.34
under-aware

×0.18
under-aware

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
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  1. Is propylene glycol alginate bad for you?

    No—propylene glycol alginate (E405) is approved in the EU and US and is generally considered safe at permitted levels; most people tolerate it well, though very high intakes may cause mild digestive upset in some individuals.

  2. What is propylene glycol alginate made from?

    It’s made by reacting alginic acid extracted from brown seaweed (kelp) with propylene glycol. Some remaining acid groups may be neutralized with alkali (e.g., sodium).

  3. How do they make propylene glycol alginate?

    Manufacturers extract alginic acid from brown seaweed, purify it, then partially esterify it with propylene glycol under controlled conditions. The material is then neutralized as needed, dried, and milled into a powder.

  4. How is propylene glycol alginate made?

    By partially esterifying seaweed-derived alginic acid with propylene glycol, leaving some carboxyl groups free or neutralized with alkali, then drying the product. This process yields an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener used in foods.

  5. How to fix e405 fuel comms error?

    That appears to be a device/vehicle fault code unrelated to the food additive E405 (propylene glycol alginate); consult your equipment manual or the manufacturer’s support for troubleshooting.