E212 / Preservatives
Potassium benzoate
Safety in brief
Safe
Recorded EatMatrix rating, not a new clinical review. The amount, your sensitivities and country rules still matter.
- Watch for
- Recorded sensitivities: benzoate sensitivity.
- Our advice
- Read the whole food label and consider how often you eat the product. A name or E number does not tell you the amount, and an ingredient rating cannot assess the entire food.
What it is
Potassium benzoate is the potassium salt of benzoic acid, used as a preservative in food, beverages, and cosmetics to inhibit mould, yeast, and bacteria and extend shelf life. It works best in acidic conditions, making it suitable for fruit juices, soft drinks, pickles, jams, and salad dressings. Regulators including the FDA consider it safe within approved usage limits.
Also appears on labels as: Potassium benzoate, E212, E 212, E-212, INS 212, Potassium salt of benzoic acid, Benzoic acid potassium salt, K-benzoate, Potassium benzoate food grade, Preservative E212, Food additive E212, Additivo alimentare E212.
Dietary information
- Vegan
- Yes
- Halal
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergens
- Caution
Recorded ingredient information. Check the product label or certification: sources, other ingredients and cross-contact can vary.
Research & body effects
Selected research on E212
How to read study types- Regulator reviewEFSA re-evaluation of benzoic acid and benzoates
Set a safe daily limit of 5 mg per kg of body weight and found no DNA or cancer concern. Toddlers and children who often drink flavoured drinks could go over it.
Summaries of each source's published abstract or statement, checked . This is a selection of sources, not a complete literature review. Authority assessments apply to the uses and places they cover.
Health notes from our ingredient record
- Shares the benzene-formation risk of other benzoates when combined with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) under heat, light, or metal-ion exposure; industry mitigations apply.
- Occasional intolerance or mild allergic-type reactions reported in sensitive individuals, consistent with other benzoate salts.
Other references from our ingredient record
These links come from the original ingredient record. They are separate from the source reviews above and have not all been checked for the exact ingredient, amount consumed or claim. Dates are shown newest first.
- Scientific Opinion on the re‐evaluation of benzoic acid (E 210), sodium benzoate (E 211), potassium benzoate (E 212) and calcium benzoate (E 213) as food additives — EFSA Panel on Food Additives, EFSA Journal (2016). Official EFSA scientific opinion (bibliographic reference, imported 2026-10-13). It covers the additive as a group assessment and is not an individual human study; read the opinion for its findings.
Country rules
Country checks for E212
Permission depends on the market, type of food, amount and conditions. A scientific opinion or an E-number alone does not establish a legal use. These checks are separate from the stored EatMatrix rating.
Compare all eight markets and their sources
| Market | What is checked |
|---|---|
| European Union | Regulation (EC) 1333/2008, Annex II Part B, version , contains the exact code E212: Potassium benzoate. The footnote addresses presence in certain fermented products resulting from fermentation following good manufacturing practice; that is not an unrestricted added-use permission. Listing alone does not allow every food use. Part E food categories, limits, specifications and applicable later acts still need a product-specific check. Source read: . |
| Great Britain | The FSA register record for E212 (Potassium benzoate) lists “Authorised” in England, Scotland and Wales. Register updated: 01 April 2025; record checked: . Food-specific conditions and specifications still need a separate legal check. |
| United States | Complete current-use review pending. Any scoped provision in the label guide above applies only to the stated use. FDA explains the applicable food-additive and GRAS framework. |
| Northern Ireland | Review pending. Check the applicable EU rules and territory arrangements; the GB register alone does not establish this status. FSA guidance is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Canada | Named food-use records located. Health Canada lists the preparations below for specified foods and purposes. This is conditional permission for those uses, not approval of every product or a personal safety verdict. Only the named records and conditions below were located. Exact composition and specifications still need matching. Source tables captured . List publication dates are shown separately. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a condition of use, not an unlimited amount or a recommended intake. Food and Drug Regulations B.16.003 requires the listed source, purpose, amount and other conditions to match. The official consolidation read was current to 21 September 2026; product specifications and applicable later changes still need checking. Read 6 listed food-use conditionsPotassium BenzoateHealth Canada: List of Permitted Preservatives. List published ; item P.2.
EatMatrix reading: match the exact preparation and food first. A manufacturing limit is not an acceptable daily intake (ADI). A label without the amount cannot establish exposure, and an unlisted name here does not establish a ban. |
| Australia | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| New Zealand | Review pending. Food Standards Code permissions and conditions need an additive-specific check. FSANZ food-additive rules is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
| Japan | Review pending. The relevant list, identity and use standards need an additive-specific check. CAA food-additive lists is a starting source, not a verified permission for this entry. |
Sources & review status
Check what each source covers: an authority’s conclusion, a research finding and a country’s legal permission answer different questions.
What this guide covers
- Selected research
- 1 source summaries, with publication dates and study types. Several publications may describe the same study population.
- Official assessment reference
- EFSA opinion located for E212. Identity and code coverage checked; full findings review pending.
- Original ingredient record
- 1 research link; newest recorded date: . Sources added separately to this guide are not included in this count.
This guide brings together our ingredient record and the dated sources shown here. Missing information describes a gap in this guide; it does not mean an ingredient is untested, safe or harmful. This is not a complete review of every study, preparation or current country rule. The amount in a product and how it is used still matter.
How to read the ratings, research and country checksAgency labels recorded by EatMatrix
These are imported database classifications, not verified current statements from each authority. Use the dated official sources below for their actual scope and conclusions.
| Authority | Database label |
|---|---|
| FDA | Safe |
| WHO | Safe |
| EFSA | Safe |
| FSANZ | Safe |
| Japan | Safe |
| UK FSA | Safe |
| Health Canada | Safe |
An official EFSA assessment for E212
An official scientific opinion covering E212 exists. A missing research link or rating in our database does not mean this additive has never been assessed. This reference identifies the document; it does not replace a review of its findings, later research or current food-use rules.
EFSA: Re-evaluation of benzoic acid (E210), sodium benzoate (E211), potassium benzoate (E212) and calcium benzoate (E213)
- Published
- Codes covered by this reference
- E210, E211, E212, E213
- Source type
- EFSA scientific opinion, not an individual human trial
EatMatrix checked this reference’s identity and code coverage on . The full evidence review, an exhaustive check for subsequent publications and corrections, and market-specific permissions remain pending. This does not change the recorded EatMatrix rating above.
Database updated: . What does an E number mean on a food label?
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is EatMatrix's recorded rating for E212?
The recorded EatMatrix rating for E212 (Potassium benzoate) is “Safe”. It is calculated from labels stored in our ingredient database. These labels are not verified current regulator decisions or country permissions. A database update date is not a scientific review date.
Is E212 vegan, halal or gluten-free?
According to our ingredient data for Potassium benzoate — vegan: yes, vegetarian: yes, halal: yes, kosher: yes, gluten-free: yes, dairy-free: yes. Manufacturing sources can vary between products; check the label if it matters to you.
What is E212 and why is it used?
Potassium benzoate is the potassium salt of benzoic acid, used as a preservative in food, beverages, and cosmetics to inhibit mould, yeast, and bacteria and extend shelf life. It works best in acidic conditions, making it suitable for fruit juices, soft drinks, pickles, jams, and salad dressings. Regulators including the FDA consider it safe within approved usage limits.
Does E212 contain allergens?
No known allergens are recorded for Potassium benzoate, with a caution: benzoate sensitivity.
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This page shows information and classifications recorded in our ingredient database. Current scientific and market-specific verification remains pending as described above. It is general information, not medical advice.