Is Sodium Benzoate safe in cosmetics?
Sodium Benzoate has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Sodium Benzoate
INCI: SODIUM BENZOATE
Sodium Benzoate (CAS 532-32-1) is a cosmetic preservative functioning as preservative. NOAEL 1795 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max 0.5% as benzoic acid equivalent. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 532-32-1 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
preservative
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
0.5% as benzoic acid equivalent
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted; GRAS for food use. No US-specific cosmetic concentration cap. Very low sensitization rate — suitable for sensitive-skin and baby formulations. pH-dependent: active as undissociated benzoic acid below pH 5.5. Potassium sorbate + sodium benzoate combination system preferred for clean/organic acid preservation.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Sodium Benzoate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Sodium Benzoate. 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 | 175 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 250 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rabbit | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 300 mg/kg bw/day | oral | hamster | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 510 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Developmental | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 1095 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Carcinogenicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 1250 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 2000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | 2090 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS_DB |
| NOAEL | =3.6 mg/kg bw/day | oral | - | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_jecfa_jecmono_v1037je01 |
| NOAEL | =3.6 mg/kg bw/day | oral | - | Toxicology study | INCHEM_WHO_jecfa_jecmono_v1037je01 |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Sodium Benzoate across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Sodium Benzoate 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
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Sodium Benzoate, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
2-5%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
144.1 Da
Log P
-2.3
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
1-3%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: CIR
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =1310 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | EFSA |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | - | EFSA |
| LEL | =36000 mg/kg-day | Pig | oral | subchronic | EFSA |
| LEL | =36000 mg/kg-day | Pig | oral | subchronic | EFSA |
| LEL | =36000 mg/kg-day | Pig | oral | - | EFSA |
| NOEL | =1000 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | acute | ECOTOX |
| NOAEL | =250 mg/kg-day | Rabbit | oral | - | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =905 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | short-term | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =3571 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | short-term | ECHA IUCLID |
| NOAEL | =1000 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | subchronic | ECHA IUCLID |
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: preservative
Receptor targets: ERα (weak, limited)
LOEC: N/A
EU status: allowed (max 0.5%)
weak modulator
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
JPKR Japan/Korea Cosmetics
Japan (Positive (Preservative)): max 1.0
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (4)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | permitted_preservative | 0.5 | All cosmetics |
| IN | permitted_preservative | 0.5 | all products (other benzoate salts/esters) |
| AU | restricted | - | preservatives |
| BR | permitted_preservative | 2.5 (rinse) / 1.7 (oral) / 0.5 (leave-on) | Same as Benzoic Acid (calculated as acid) |
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (1 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured_sccs_opinion | 42.6% | - | - | SCCP/0891/05 |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | 0.1–0.5 | 0.5 | CIR/VCRP |
| Body Lotion | 0.1–0.5 | 0.5 | CIR/VCRP |
| Toner | 0.1–0.5 | 0.5 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "532-32-1", "anti_acne_mechanism": "antibacterial", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "0-1", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "p_acnes_mic_ug_per_ml": ">500", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "0-5", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "Max 1-2%", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "…
allergen_detail
{"eu_allergen_listed": "no", "allergen_class": "preservative", "cross_reactivity_group": "benzoate-group", "patch_test_frequency_pct": "0.3", "sensitization_rate": "low", "common_reaction_type": "contact-dermatitis", "ifra_restricted": "no", "source": "ESSCA; IVDK; NACDG"}
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "532-32-1", "ingredient_class": "other", "primary_mechanism": "barrier_reinforcement", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation": "no", "NF_kB_inhibitio…
baby_pediatric
{"cas_number": "532-32-1", "ingredient_class": "preservative_baby_safe", "pediatric_safety_rating": "excellent", "minimum_age_months": "0", "neonatal_safe": "yes", "premature_infant_safe": "yes", "skin_barrier_maturity_consideration": "GRAS, antimicrobial, pH-dependent, safe at proper concentration", "transepidermal_absorption_risk_pediatric": "very_low", "dose_per_kg_body_weight_concern": "Safe a…
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "0", "irritancy_rating": "1", "skin_type_suitability": "all,oily,combination,normal", "acne_safe": "yes", "source": "Preservative"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "0.1", "max_concentration_pct": "0.5", "typical_concentration_pct": "0.5", "product_type": "Cleanser", "function_at_concentration": "Preservative", "source": "CIR Safety Assessment; EU Annex V"}
cost_pricing
{"cost_tier": "budget", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_low": "4", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_high": "8", "natural_premium_markup_pct": "0", "organic_certified_premium_pct": "0", "supply_chain_volatility": "low", "primary_source_region": "China", "bulk_discount_threshold_kg": "1000", "seasonal_price_variation": "low", "commodity_or_specialty": "commodity", "substitute_ingredients": "Potassium Sorbate, …
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "144.1", "log_p_value": "-2.3", "skin_penetration_level": "surface", "penetration_depth": "stratum corneum", "absorption_pct": "2-5", "systemic_absorption": "minimal", "penetration_enhancer": "no", "occlusion_effect": "no", "vehicle_dependent": "yes", "skin_barrier_effect": "neutral", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "1-3", "safety_margin_factor": "low", "source": "CIR"}
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Antioxidant
Biocide
Corrosion inhibitor
Crystal growth modifiers (nucleating agents)
Deodorizer
Dye
Flavouring and nutrient
Flocculating agent
Food preservative
Fragrance
Regulatory List Membership (5)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Sodium Benzoate.
Regulatory Flags
preservative
eu-annex-v
organic-acid
very-low-sensitization
ph-dependent
sensitive-skin-suitable
baby-safe
clean-label
gras
synergistic-with-potassium-sorbate
ph-5.5-optimal
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Sodium Benzoate by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
50
Lowest NOAEL
3.6 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
4325 mg/kg bw/day
COSMOS_DB
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
INCHEM_WHO_jecfa_jecmono_v1037je01
INCHEM_WHO_jecfa_jecmono_v83je01
ECHA_REACH_reach_study_results_dossiers_23-05-2023.zip
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 42.6% | SCCS PDF direct extraction | - |
Chemical Function
Preservative
Corrosion inhibitor
Biocide
Regulatory Lists
SCIL (9/2019)
Canada; consumer_product; Substances in Products - Canada (4/2014)
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - hand soap
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
detected; general_crops; Pesticides; residue
Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - body hygiene - body wash
children; Europe; Personal care - hair styling and care - shampoo
children; Europe; Personal care - specialized bath products - bubble bath
children; Europe; Personal care - dental care - toothpaste
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
SODIUM BENZOATE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1356
Max Phase
4
Adverse Event Associations
147
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sodium Benzoate allowed in the EU?
Sodium Benzoate EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.5% as benzoic acid equivalent. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Sodium Benzoate do in cosmetics?
Sodium Benzoate functions as: preservative. It is classified as a Preservative in our database. CAS number: 532-32-1.
What is the NOAEL for Sodium Benzoate?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Sodium Benzoate is 175 mg/kg bw/day based on a Developmental study via oral route in mouse. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.
Is Sodium Benzoate used outside cosmetics?
Sodium Benzoate also appears in pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Sodium Benzoate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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