Potassium Benzoate is the potassium salt of benzoic acid, is a food preservative that inhibits the growth of mold, yeast and some bacteria. It works best in low-pH products, below 4.5, where it exists as benzoic acid.
Contents
Uses
- Potassium benzoate is a chemical preservative that is commonly added to some foods and drinks, but most notably soft drinks.
- Potassium benzoate is an effective preservative because it blocks the growth of some bacteria, yeast and mold. When dissolved in liquid, it separates into its two parts, the electrolyte potassium and the benzoate salt.
- Potassium is extremely important for several biological processes including the muscle contraction associated with the beat of your heart.
Benefits
- Potassium is an essential mineral that is required by all of your cells, tissues and organs for proper function. Along with calcium, sodium and magnesium, potassium acts as an electrolyte because it helps propagate electrical signals and pulses throughout your nervous system. In addition to its importance for maintaining proper heart rhythm, potassium is also needed for smooth muscle contraction, which is necessary for the health and function of your digestive system.
Cautions
The FDA has determined that beverages that contain both potassium benzoate and vitamin C contain minimal amounts of benzene. The Environmental Protection Agency defines safe drinking water as having less than 5 parts per billion, or ppb, of benzene. Accordingly, the FDA has adopted this maximum allowable limit for consumer-based beverages.
Interactions
n/a
Other names
E212
References
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_benzoate
LiveStrong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/424346-what-is-potassium-benzoate/