Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative to prevent food from molding. It's added to a wide variety of foods, including mayonnaise, margarine, carbonated drinks, jams and jellies, sauces, and ...

Other types of benzoate, such as sodium benzoate, are regarded as safe. However, the FDA notes that it has not determined whether it would be safe to consume levels higher than 0.1%.

Additionally, it’s used as a sodium benzoate alternative in foods that require a lower sodium content (3). You can tell whether a food contains potassium benzoate by looking at the ingredient list.