Sodium Benzoate Food Grade

Sodium Benzoate Food Grade

Beverage and sauce manufacturers evaluate sodium benzoate far beyond simple assay percentages. Heavy metal control, moisture levels, and impurity profiles directly impact regulatory approval, flavor stability, and shelf-life performance. Our sodium benzoate food grade delivers a 99.0% minimum assay on a dry basis, with chloride held at ≤ 0.02% and heavy metals (as Pb) at ≤ 2.0 mg/kg. This strict purity profile ensures the undissociated acid fraction remains stable, protecting the sensory profile and visual clarity of your products across their entire labeled shelf life.

As the sodium salt of benzoic acid (CAS 532-32-1, E211), this preservative dissolves readily in water. Its antimicrobial mechanism is pH-dependent, converting to the active undissociated benzoic acid form in acidic environments (pH 2.5 – 4.5). We supply this sodium benzoate food grade in powder, granular, and columnar forms, complete with batch-specific COA, MSDS, and TDS documentation for global importers and distributors.

Why Choose Our Manufacturing

• Stable Capacity: Dedicated neutralization lines ensuring a reliable monthly supply of 1,000+ metric tons.
• Global Compliance: Successfully exported to 40+ countries, with full familiarity with regional food additive registration requirements.
• In-House QC: Every batch is tested for assay, heavy metals, and arsenic using validated analytical methods including ICP-MS for trace contaminants.
• Advanced Packaging: Automated, dust-free packaging for 25kg and jumbo bags, ensuring seal integrity during ocean freight.

Manufacturing operates under ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 systems with HACCP controls. Kosher and Halal certifications are maintained. The product is manufactured following cGMP principles and complies with FDA 21 CFR 184.1733 requirements where applicable. Full forward-and-backward traceability is guaranteed from raw benzoic acid feedstock to the sealed 25 kg bag.

Key Features & Buyer Considerations

• Optimized for Acidic Matrices: At a typical 0.1% addition rate in pH 3.5 beverages, our 99.0% purity sustains the active acid fraction above the minimum inhibitory concentration for yeast and mold, preventing late-stage spoilage.
• Equipment Protection: Chloride levels ≤ 0.02% prevent pitting corrosion in 304/316 stainless-steel batching tanks, reducing maintenance downtime and preventing metallic off-flavors.
• Strict Contaminant Control: Lead and arsenic limits (≤ 2.0 mg/kg each) align with EU 231/2012 and Codex Alimentarius, reducing the risk of documentation disputes during import clearance.

Engineering Insights: The pH Factor

The antimicrobial efficacy of E211 is governed by the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation (pKa 4.19). At pH 3.5, roughly 83% of the total benzoate exists as the membrane-permeable, undissociated benzoic acid that disrupts microbial proton gradients. By pH 4.5, this share drops to ~33%, and below 20% at pH 5.0. Therefore, this preservative performs predictably in products stabilized below pH 4.5. Above this threshold, dosage must rise sharply, or alternative preservation strategies should be evaluated.

Note: In clear flavored waters or delicate fruit juices below pH 3.0, the sharp rise in undissociated acid may contribute astringent notes. Sensory tolerance should be confirmed at the target addition rate. For synergistic preservation strategies, explore our food preservation solutions.

Technical Specifications

Property	Food Grade Standard	Feed Grade Standard	Pharma Grade (BP/USP)
CAS Number	532-32-1
EINECS Number	208-534-8
E Number / INS	E211
Chemical Formula	C₇H₅NaO₂
Molecular Weight	144.11 g/mol
Appearance	White Powder / Granular	White Powder / Granular	White Crystalline Powder
Assay (Dry Basis)	99.0% – 100.5%	≥ 98.5%	99.0% – 100.5%
Loss on Drying	≤ 1.5%	≤ 2.0%	≤ 1.5%
pH (10% Solution)	7.0 – 8.5	7.0 – 8.5	7.0 – 8.0
Chloride (Cl)	≤ 0.02%	≤ 0.05%	≤ 0.02%
Heavy Metals (as Pb)	≤ 2.0 mg/kg	≤ 20 mg/kg	≤ 10 ppm
Arsenic (As)	≤ 2.0 mg/kg	Not specified / Pass	Pass Test
Solubility in Water	556 g/L at 20°C
Regulatory References	GB 1886.184-2016, FCC, EU 231/2012	Aligned with target market feed safety requirements	BP, USP

Packaging & Supply Options

Available packaging includes standard 25 kg PE-lined PP woven bags, as well as 500 kg and 1000 kg jumbo bags for bulk industrial orders. Standard container loading is approximately 16.5 metric tons for powder and up to 20 metric tons for granular or columnar grades per 20ft FCL. OEM packaging and private labeling are available for qualified distributors. Free samples up to 500 g are available for quality verification prior to bulk ordering.

Storage & Handling

This sodium benzoate food grade is hygroscopic. Store in original sealed packaging in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Shelf life is two years under recommended conditions.

Field Experience: Buyers shipping to tropical regions consistently select our granular or columnar grades. Ocean freight humidity spikes increase caking risk for fine powders; our controlled larger-particle forms maintain flowability upon arrival, saving plants from costly manual bag-breaking.

For applications requiring alternative or synergistic preservatives, see our calcium propionate products. For a complete overview, visit our food preservation category or feed grade sodium benzoate page.

Frequently Asked Questions