Benzonates - Good Or Bad?

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Benzonates - Good Or Bad?

In 1990, William Jago wrote in his Manual of Forensic Chemistry and Chemical Evidence

The administration of benzonic acid, either as such or in the form of benzonate of soda (sodium benzonate), is highly objectionable and produces a very serious disturbance of the metabolic functions, attended with injury to digestion and health. There is only one conclusion to be drawn from this daya, and that is that in the interests of health both benzonic acid and benzonate of soda should be excluded from food products.

Nearly a century on, benzonic acid, sodium benzonate, and a host of related compounds such as parabens, are still widely used in foods  and cosmetics, including most fizzy drinks consumed by children. They are antimicrobial preservatives. in otherw ords, they are chemicals that kill cells or prevent them from reproducing and infecting the food, toiletry, or cosmetic. They cause gastric irritation, numbing of the mouth, urticaria (nettle rash or hives) and they particularly affect asthma sufferers.This does beg the question why an increasing number of our children suffer from asthma despite the improvement in air quality in recent years.

The parahydroxy benzonates, or parabens, are widely used in cosmetics, including bath products such as moist tissue wipes, where the chemicals are likely to remain on the baby's skin. We have a collection of labels including one that lists no less than four different parabens and there are three other antimicrobial preservatives in one product. Surprising, the label plays up the fact that this particular toiletry contains mainly natural plant extracts.
Why use so many parabens? Simple - some dissolve in water while other are soluble in oil. Most cosmetics have both watery and oily ingredients blended together in the form of an emulsion, so preservatives must be used in such a way that both parts of the cosmetic are protected.

Additionally, Eu  regulations limit the amount of parabens used to 0.4 percent of the finished product for each paraben used, up to a maximum of 0.8 percent. Manufacturers are required to produce cosmetics and toiletries that meet strict requirements for microbe contamination. Liberal use of preservatives help them to meet these requirements, which are five times more stringent for baby products, necessitating the use of even larger quantities of preservatives.

Reference: Cosmetic Unmasked: Dr Stephen & Gina Antczak

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