Ingredient label reference
Sodium Benzoate
Preservative ingredient
Preservatives and product-protection systems
A preservative used under suitable formula conditions to help protect the product from microbial spoilage.
- Also seen as
- Sodium salt of benzoic acid · E211
- Reported functions
- Preservative · Anticorrosive · Fragrance
- Example formats
- Rinse-off · Leave-on · Wipe
Why it may be in a product
Water-containing products need a validated preservation strategy; one named preservative is only part of that system.
What the name tells you
It identifies an ingredient reported to protect a formula from microorganisms—not to disinfect a dog.
What the label cannot tell you
It cannot establish concentration, finished pH, organisms controlled, the complete preservation system, challenge-test result, shelf life or canine safety. E211 is only a food-code search alias.
Evidence status
Official function terminology established; a canine finished-product outcome is not established.
Reference entries
Evidence and boundaries
Terminology sources, shown plainly.
The glossary uses official European sources to check ingredient terminology and to keep medical, biocidal and finished-product claims outside the glossary. Cosmetic references concern human products; their use here is limited to names and reported formulation functions.
Reference review: 2026-08-25.
Read the Journal editorial method →Discussed in Journal guides
- How to read a dog shampoo ingredient listWork through one clearly fictional label · Fictional label teaching example—not a real product or formula recommendation.
- Dog shampoo ingredients: what are they for?Preservation, chelation and pH are systems · Supporting formulation roles. These names do not disclose finished pH, preservation validation or product quality.
- What to look for in a dog shampoo before you buyWhat an ingredient name cannot tell you · Examples of names from four different functional groups, showing what a lookup returns. This is not a ranking, a shortlist of concerns or a list of names to avoid.
Source 1
European Commission — CosIng databaseA non-binding reference for cosmetic ingredient names and reported functions. It concerns human cosmetics and is used here only as a terminology source, not as canine safety approval.
Source 2
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175The current EU glossary of common ingredient names for cosmetic product labelling, applicable from 30 July 2026.
Source 3
Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal productsRegulatory context for why claims about treating or preventing disease are outside this formulation glossary.
Source 4
Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 on biocidal productsRegulatory context for why disinfection and pest-control claims are outside this formulation glossary.