sodium benzoate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2-C1Technical/Scientific, Regulatory, Consumer Product Labeling
Quick answer
What does “sodium benzoate” mean?
The sodium salt of benzoic acid, widely used as a food preservative (E211).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The sodium salt of benzoic acid, widely used as a food preservative (E211).
A white, crystalline or granular powder soluble in water, primarily used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds in acidic foods and beverages.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; identical term used in both varieties. Differences arise in regulatory context and specific approved uses.
Connotations
Neutral-to-negative in consumer contexts ('chemical additive'), neutral-to-positive in industrial contexts (effective, cheap preservative).
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK/EU contexts due to stricter additive labeling laws (E-number system).
Grammar
How to Use “sodium benzoate” in a Sentence
[Product] contains sodium benzoate.Sodium benzoate is added to [product] to prevent spoilage.[Agent] uses sodium benzoate as [function].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sodium benzoate” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- sodium-benzoate-containing syrup
- a sodium-benzoate-free formula
American English
- sodium benzoate containing syrup
- a sodium benzoate free formula
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Our supplier guarantees the sodium benzoate meets food-grade specifications.
Academic
The study examined the inhibitory effect of sodium benzoate on Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Everyday
I check the label for sodium benzoate because it gives me headaches.
Technical
Dissolve 0.1% w/v sodium benzoate in distilled water, adjust pH to 4.5.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sodium benzoate”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sodium benzoate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sodium benzoate”
- Misspelling as 'sodium benzoate' (missing 'e').
- Confusing with 'benzene' or 'benzoin'.
- Using 'sodium benzoate' as a countable noun (e.g., 'add a sodium benzoate'). It is uncountable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Major food safety agencies (EFSA, FDA) consider it safe within established limits. Some studies suggest potential issues in specific combinations (e.g., with vitamin C) or for sensitive individuals, leading to consumer avoidance.
It is common in acidic foods and drinks: carbonated soft drinks (soda), fruit juices, pickles, condiments like salad dressings and sauces, and some jams.
Benzoic acid is poorly soluble in water. Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, making it highly soluble and therefore much more practical for use in aqueous food and drink systems.
The 'E number' system (EU) classifies permitted food additives. E211 is the specific code for sodium benzoate, allowing for consistent identification across different languages.
The sodium salt of benzoic acid, widely used as a food preservative (E211).
Sodium benzoate is usually technical/scientific, regulatory, consumer product labeling in register.
Sodium benzoate: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsəʊ.di.əm ˈben.zəʊ.eɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsoʊ.di.əm ˈben.zoʊ.eɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SODium keeps food sound. BENZOATE sounds like 'bent-zo-ate' – it bends (stops) the 'zo' (growth) of microbes you'd ate.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRESERVATIVE IS A GUARD / CHEMICAL ADDITIVE IS AN ALIEN INGREDIENT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of sodium benzoate in the food industry?