Benzoic acid (E210)

No. Benzoic acid (E210) is not one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as processed or ultra-processed, so on its own it doesn't raise a product's NOVA group.

What it is

Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

A product that contains it can still be ultra-processed for other reasons: 40 of the 40 products here that contain benzoic acid (E210) (100%) are in group 4 because of other ingredients or additives.

Function

Preservative: Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about benzoic acid (E210) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Benzoic acid (E210) appears in 40 of the 40,000 products on this site (0%).

Energy drinks 13 of 278 products
Energy drink without sugar and with artificial sweeteners 7 of 60 products
Flatbreads 3 of 345 products
Sodas 3 of 612 products
Corn flatbreads 2 of 13 products
Breads 1 of 2,388 products

Products containing benzoic acid (E210)

How the NOVA classification works