Preservative · EU 212
Potassium Benzoate
FDA status: Approved. EU: Approved. No U.S. state has enacted a specific ban yet.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Potassium Benzoate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it independently of federal policy. Its composite safety score is 2 out of 5 (Caution), and the European Union separately classifies it as approved. By tracked product count it ranks #54 of 417.
- #54 of 417 by tracked product prevalence
The verdict
Potassium Benzoate is FDA-approved, and no U.S. state has moved to restrict it. By Open Food Facts product count it sits #54 of 417 among additives with tracked product presence (87th percentile).
- 2/5
- Caution
- Approved
- FDA status
- #54 of 417
- product-prevalence rank
- 0
- state regulations
Product-footprint and regulatory snapshot
Potassium Benzoate: 961 tracked U.S. products (common band, #54 of 417) frame how often this additive appears on shelves.
| Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tracked Products | 961 · #54 of 417 | Open Food Facts (US) |
| FDA Status | Approved | FDA SAFFA |
| EU Status | Approved | EC 1333/2008 |
| E-Number | 212 | EU additive register |
| CAS Number | - | CAS Registry |
| Category | Preservative | FDA functional class |
| Composite Safety Score | 2 / 5 (Caution) | PlainIngredients methodology |
| EFSA ADI | 5 | EFSA scientific opinion |
| U.S. State Actions | 0 states | State legislative records |
Values reflect official agency classifications as published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union's regulatory framework. See our methodology for scoring details.
What is Potassium Benzoate?
Potassium Benzoate is a food additive (212) classified as preservative.
Health Concerns
- EFSA evaluation: 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 f. EFSA overexposure risk: high. Flagged by ANSES (French food safety agency) as additive of interest
Common Uses
Shelf-footprint peer axes
Nationwide peers for a common OFF footprint
Nearest OFF product-count peers (961 tracked here); safety-score column omitted on prevalence-led pages.
Nearest OFF product count to 961
Nearest other additives by Open Food Facts product count (floored at ≥50).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Potassium Benzoate safe to consume?
Potassium Benzoate scores 2/5 (Caution). FDA status is Approved. On the Open Food Facts U.S. sample it is a common additive (961 tracked products, #54 of 417), so product footprint, not just the score label, frames how widely a shopper will meet it.
What is Potassium Benzoate used for in food?
Potassium Benzoate shows up as Processed foods, baked goods, beverages in the Preservative class, and the OFF sample puts it in the common footprint band (961 products).
Where does Potassium Benzoate sit among food additives PlainIngredients tracks?
Among additives with at least one tracked product, it ranks #54 of 417 by Open Food Facts product count. See /methodology#corpus-placement for the ranking bases.
What health concerns are associated with Potassium Benzoate?
Research has identified the following health concerns for Potassium Benzoate: EFSA evaluation: 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 f. EFSA overexposure risk: high. Flagged by ANSES (French food safety agency) as additive of interest. These findings inform its safety score of 2/5. Consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance, especially if you have pre-existing conditions.