Benzoates are benzoic acid, its sodium, potassium and calcium salts, plus related para-hydroxybenzoates on the current UK approved-additives list. Sodium benzoate E211 is the member most shoppers recognise.
E210 · E211 · E212 · E213 · E214
8 linked additive entriesBenzoates are benzoic acid, its sodium, potassium and calcium salts, plus related para-hydroxybenzoates on the current UK approved-additives list. Sodium benzoate E211 is the member most shoppers recognise.
These preservatives work best in acidic formulations, which is why the family is associated with drinks, pickles, sauces and fruit products. The approved list currently names E210 to E215 and E218 to E219; nearby historical or database entries should not be assumed to share the same present authorisation.
Benzoic acid is most effective when enough of it remains in an undissociated form that can cross microbial cell membranes. Product pH therefore changes how useful the preservative is. The E-number identifies the substance, but it does not reveal the final pH or dose.
E211 is the sodium salt and is easier to formulate into many water-based products than benzoic acid itself. E212 and E213 use potassium and calcium. The para-hydroxybenzoates form another related branch and should be read by their full names.
Sodium benzoate was included alongside colour mixtures in the Southampton study. That does not make it one of the six colours covered by the UK activity-and-attention warning. Precise wording matters when a study tests several ingredients together.
8 entries, linked to the full evidence page
What it is: An acid found naturally in cranberries and cinnamon, made synthetically for food use.
What it does: Stops mould, yeast and bacteria growing in acidic foods and drinks.
Where you may see it: Fizzy drinks and squash, pickles, olives, vinegar sauces and dressings, and some pickled fish. Label: E210.
Read evidence and sourcesWhat it is: A man-made preservative, the sodium salt of benzoic acid. It stops acidic foods and drinks spoiling.
What it does: It stops yeasts, moulds and bacteria growing. It slips into their cells in acid conditions and stalls their energy.
Where you may see it: Fizzy and energy drinks, fruit juices and squashes, pickles, sauces, dressings, jams and some sweets. Labelled 'sodium benzoate' or 'E211'.
Read evidence and sourcesWhat it is: The potassium salt of benzoic acid, closely related to sodium benzoate.
What it does: Stops mould, yeast and many bacteria growing in acidic foods and drinks.
Where you may see it: Fizzy and still soft drinks, fruit juices, pickles, olives, dressings, sauces and jams. Labelled potassium benzoate or E212.
Read evidence and sourcesWhat it is: The calcium salt of benzoic acid. It occurs in cranberries, plums and cinnamon. The added version is made in a factory.
What it does: Gets inside mould, yeast and bacteria and wrecks their acidity. That stops them making the energy they need to grow.
Where you may see it: Soft and fruit drinks, syrups, pickles, olives, sauces, marinades, jams and some baked goods. Labels list it as calcium benzoate or E213.
Read evidence and sourcesWhat it is: A paraben preservative, the ethyl ester of a benzoic acid relative. It is made in a factory, not found in food.
What it does: Breaks up the cell walls of bacteria, yeast and mould so they cannot grow. Food then keeps longer.
Where you may see it: Jelly coatings on meat and fish, meat and fish pastes, shrimp and marinades. Also seasoning sauces and coated nuts. Label: E214.
Read evidence and sourcesWhat it is: A paraben preservative. It is the sodium salt of ethylparaben, which makes it mix into water fast.
What it does: Breaks up the cell walls of bacteria, yeast and mould and jams their enzymes. It works across a wide acidity range.
Where you may see it: The surface of dried meat, jelly coatings on pate, sweets other than chocolate, and liquid supplements. Labels list it as E215.
Read evidence and sourcesWhat it is: A paraben preservative. It is the mildest oestrogen mimic in the paraben family.
What it does: Breaks up the cell walls of bacteria, mould and yeast so they cannot breed. It works across a wide acidity range.
Where you may see it: Jelly coatings on pate and other meat, sweets other than chocolate, and liquid supplements. Labels list it as E218.
Read evidence and sourcesWhat it is: The sodium salt of methylparaben, which dissolves in water so it suits wet foods. The body handles it the same way.
What it does: Kills microbes by damaging their outer membrane. As the water-soluble paraben it goes where the oily ones will not mix.
Where you may see it: Meat and fish pastes, jelly coatings on cured meat, marinades, seasoning sauces, some snacks and supplements. Labels list it as E219.
Read evidence and sourcesThe table summarises fields from NutraSafe’s reviewed additive records. “Check” is deliberate: a code can identify the substance without revealing every feedstock, processing aid or certification decision.
| Code | Additive | Source note | Dietary source check |
|---|---|---|---|
| E210 | Benzoic acid | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: check source/certification |
| E211 | Sodium benzoate | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: check source/certification |
| E212 | Potassium benzoate | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: check source/certification |
| E213 | Calcium benzoate | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: check source/certification |
| E214 | Ethylparaben | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: listed as suitable |
| E215 | Sodium ethyl para-hydroxybenzoate | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: listed as suitable |
| E218 | Methylparaben | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: listed as suitable |
| E219 | Sodium methylparaben | synthetic | Vegan: listed as suitable; Halal: listed as suitable |
Jurisdiction note: Great Britain’s electronic register is the official public list for GB authorisations from 1 April 2025. Northern Ireland and EU positions can differ. Presence in NutraSafe’s reference library is not a claim of unrestricted current authorisation in every jurisdiction or food.
E211 is sodium benzoate, a preservative used mainly in acidic foods and drinks.
No. It was included in tested mixtures, but the Southampton Six are specific colours.
The current UK approved-additives page lists E210–E215 and E218–E219 in this group; this guide follows that current list rather than inferring authorisation from number order.
The family explanation uses current official UK regulatory and labelling material, relevant FSA or EFSA topic evidence, and specialist dietary guidance where stated. Additive-specific claims remain on the linked detail entries.
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