Yes, its food grade has been approved as a safe ingredient by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
FDA
Benzoic acid is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) that can be used as an antimicrobial agent, flavoring agent and adjuvant in food with the maximum usage of 0.1%. It can also be safely used in feed as a preservative or acidifying agent. (6) (7)
EFSA
Benzoic acid (E210) is listed in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as an authorised food additive and categorized in “Additives other than colours and sweeteners” (8).
Safety re-evaluation in 2016
Its safety was re-evaluated together with its salts and EFSA derived an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 5 mg/kg bw per day in 2016.
Approved uses
Same with that of sodium benzoate. (9)
UK Food Standards Agency
Categorized in “Others” (10)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
It is an approved ingredient in Australia and New Zealand with the code number 210. (11)
JECFA
Function Class: food additives, antimicrobial preservative. (12)
Acceptable daily intake: ADI “5 mg/kg bw” set in 1996 and no safety concern as a flavouring agent evaluated in 2002. (13)
http://www.chinafooding.com/Benzoic_Acid
PR
