E213 - Calcium Benzoate

Karen Lennox Author: Karen Lennox Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: January 27, 2026
E213 - Calcium Benzoate

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)



Characteristics: Calcium benzoate is a preservative that prolongs the shelf life of food products, protecting them from infection with bacteria, viruses, yeast. From a chemical point of view, E 213 is k

Characteristic

Calcium benzoate is a preservative that prolongs the shelf life of food products, preventing them from becoming infected with bacteria, viruses and yeast. From a chemical point of view, E 213 is the calcium salt of benzoic acid. By physical properties - these are white crystals in the form of powder. The substance is obtained by the reaction of benzoic acid with calcium hydroxide or carbonate. Impurities: free benzoic acid, carbonates, peroxybenzoates. The solubility of calcium benzoate in water depends on its temperature (values ​​calculated per 100 ml of water: 2.32 g at 0 ° C; 2.72 g at 20 ° C and 8.7 g at 100 ° C).

Use

The substance is used as a food preservative in the USA, EU, New Zealand. The supplement has antimicrobial and fungicidal action. It is used mainly in soft drinks (in particular, malt), fruit and vegetable juices, purees, sauces (which do not contain dairy products), chewing gum, ice cream, fish.

Impact on humans

Calcium benzoate is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, where it binds to the amino acid glycine (coenzyme A acts as a mediator), forms hippuric acid and is excreted by the kidneys. This mechanism does not always work in animals, because even small amounts of benzoic acid have a highly toxic effect on their body.

The permissible daily dose of E 213 for humans is 5 mg / kg. The substance has an adverse effect: it causes symptoms of asthma, allergies, urticaria, eczema, hyperactivity, which adversely affects children because they are overexcited and distracted.

Calcium benzoate is a carcinogen. It is better to avoid eating foods that contain it, because it is directly related to your health.

More on the topic:
  • E211 Sodium benzoate
  • E218 Methyl p-hydroxy benzoate
  • E216 Propyl p-hydroxy benzoate
  • E212 Potassium benzoate

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