What is E211?

We talk about artificial colours in our food and drink and we also talk about preservative 211. But what exactly is E211?

Well, it is a chemical preservative used in food, drinks and medicines and is otherwise known as sodium benzoate. A UK study has linked it to hyperactivity in children, especially when combined with artificial colours.

In chemistry terms it is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid. 


• Benzoic acid is often used as a food preservative to inhibit the growth of mould
• Sodium hydroxide is also known as caustic soda and is found in many strong and industrial cleaning products

Sodium benzoate is also used in cosmetics and toiletries such as body wash.

It is also used in fireworks as a fast-burning rocket fuel to help produce that famous whistling sound.

Sodium benzoate is clearly, therefore, a very powerful substance.

So, do we really need sodium benzoate in our food? 

Personally my view is a resounding "No." However, many food manufacturers seem to disagree (or not care) as this E211 preservative can be found in numerous products such as sauces, dips, confectionery, fruit juices, fizzy drinks and some medicines. I even found it in a pre-made Christmas cake.

But clearly it is not a necessary additive as many other products seem to do very well without it. Take the most obvious example, the content of fizzy drinks (not that I am advocating fizzy drinks for young children, of course). Some varieties have them and some do not.

It is fascinating to see that Coca-Cola and Pepsi do not have it in their standard cola products. However they do have it in their variants such as Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Pepsi Max. It is also present in Solo (by Schweppes), Sprite (by Coca-Cola) and others. On the other hand, it is not present in Fanta and Lift drinks (both Coca-Cola products).

Interestingly also, Schweppes lemonade is free from E211 if you buy it in a bottle format, but it does contain E211 if you buy it in the canned format.

The flavoured mineral water drinks, with ranges offered by Schweppes and Deep Spring, also contain E211. The new LOL brand of drinks do not.

As for medicines - there are so many cough mixtures which contain E211, as well as children's Panadol, children's Claratyne and others. Yet children's Nurofen and Bisolven cough mixture do not have this preservative.

Clearly my conclusion therefore has to be that this highly questionable preservative is not at all necessary for inclusion in our food. Why must our families be subjected to this additive when it is clearly not needed.

Keep using it in fireworks and cosmetics if you must. But please leave it out of our food, drinks and medicines.