Good Preservative NOAEL Data GHS Classified Sensitization Data

Benzoic Acid

INCI: BENZOIC ACID

CAS Number
65-85-0
Function
Preservative; broad-spectrum antimicrobial (bacteria, fungi, yeasts at acidic pH)
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status restricted
EU Max Conc. 0.5%
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted; GRAS for food use. No US-specific cosmetic concentration cap.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

10 study endpoints found for Benzoic Acid. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.

Endpoint Value Route Species Study Type Source
NOAEL 80 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Chronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 3000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1100 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 1000 mg/kg bw/day oral dog Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 510 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 5000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Short Term Toxicity COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 4000 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Subchronic COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 175 mg/kg bw/day oral mouse Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 175 mg/kg bw/day oral rat Developmental COSMOS_DB
NOAEL 300 mg/kg bw/day oral hamster Developmental COSMOS_DB

GHS Hazard Classification

Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.

Signal Word
WARNING
Pictograms
excl mark;warn; cancer;health haz
Hazard Statements
Causes serious eye damage May cause damage to lungs if inhaled Harmful to aquatic life
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is severely irritating to the eyes. The substance is mildly irritating to the skin. Exposure could cause a non-allergic rash on contact.
Long-term Exposure Effects
Lungs may be affected by repeated or prolongated exposure to an aerosol of this substance.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, by ingestion and through the skin.

Sensitization Profile

Contact sensitization data for Benzoic Acid based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.

Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
preservative
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.3%
Cross-reactivity Group
benzoate-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis

Source: ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG

Expert Verdict

Good organic acid preservative with pH-dependent antimicrobial activity most effective below pH 5. EU Annex V listed at 0.5% maximum as acid; GRAS for food use. Low sensitization potential at permitted cosmetic concentrations with well-characterized metabolic pathway via glycine conjugation to hippuric acid.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

preservative eu-annex-v organic-acid ph-dependent hurdle-technology endocrine_disruptor epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benzoic Acid safe in cosmetics?

Good organic acid preservative with pH-dependent antimicrobial activity most effective below pH 5. EU Annex V listed at 0.5% maximum as acid; GRAS for food use. Low sensitization potential at permitted cosmetic concentrations with well-characterized metabolic pathway via glycine conjugation to hippuric acid. The EU classifies Benzoic Acid as "restricted". Safety rating: GOOD. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.

Is Benzoic Acid allowed in the EU?

Benzoic Acid EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.5%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Benzoic Acid do in cosmetics?

Benzoic Acid functions as: Preservative; broad-spectrum antimicrobial (bacteria, fungi, yeasts at acidic pH). It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 65-85-0.

What is the Margin of Safety for Benzoic Acid?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

What is the NOAEL for Benzoic Acid?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Benzoic Acid is 80 mg/kg bw/day based on a Chronic study via oral route in mouse. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Is Benzoic Acid classified as hazardous under GHS?

Benzoic Acid carries a GHS signal word of "WARNING". Hazard statements: Causes serious eye damage May cause damage to lungs if inhaled Harmful to aquatic life. This classification is based on the ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Card and ECHA C&L inventory data. Note: GHS classification applies to the pure substance — at cosmetic use concentrations, hazard thresholds may not be met.

Compliance Tools

Check Benzoic Acid compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
 🧪
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
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