Can sodium benzoate preservative in food and drinks harm your reproductive health?

What's actually in it

Sodium benzoate is a preservative added to soft drinks, fruit juices, salad dressings, pickles, sauces, and many other processed foods. It prevents the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast. It's one of the most commonly used food preservatives in the world. You likely eat or drink something containing it every day.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Regul Toxicol Pharmacol tested the reproductive effects of sodium benzoate and found that it disrupted reproductive hormones, damaged ovarian tissue, and altered key signaling molecules involved in fertility. The preservative affected kisspeptin and RFRP-3, two hormones that control the reproductive cycle.

While the study used controlled laboratory doses, the findings raise concern about long-term daily exposure through multiple food sources. People who drink soft drinks and eat highly processed foods regularly get the most sodium benzoate.

Check labels for sodium benzoate (E211) or potassium benzoate (E212). Choose beverages and foods preserved with natural alternatives like citric acid. Making fresh juice and salad dressings at home avoids the preservative entirely.