Here are some of the main problems with this study and this story. As I mentioned, we’re given no indication as to why yeast was used to study the affects of sodium benzoate. For all we know, sodium benzoate could be the natural enemy of yeast cells. In the same way that humans cannot drink seawater and that flowers and fish cannot survive by being submerged in milk, perhaps yeast cannot tolerate sodium benzoate.
In the reporting of this study we aren’t given any details as to the concentration of sodium benzoate that the yeast cells were exposed to. Was the yeast “fed” 100% sodium benzoate or was the SB delivered in the same percentage that humans are exposed to? Was the yeast deprived of all other forms of “nutrition” or was this preservative delivered in a real-world fashion? I’m not aware of any food that contains 100% sodium benzoate, and I haven’t heard of an all sodium benzoate diet.
After all, humans can die in an atmosphere where there isn’t the proper amount of oxygen, or where there is an imbalance in the gasses of the atmosphere. There are plenty of examples of how a massive dose of a substance can cause damage to an organism, where that same substance is harmless in a normal dose. A person can die from too much carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and even blood in their system, and grass and plants can die from too much water.
This diet soda non-story serves as a great example of why you need to be aware of the Food Police and their accomplices in the media. So the next time you read a headline that blares of the dangers found in some common food item, be suspicious, if not contemptuous.
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
There's always some story about things being "bad" for us, especially things we thought were good. "Low fat" items are said to be bad because they make us want to eat more. "Low sugar" items are bad because of the sweeteners used. Butter substitutes are bad because of cholesterol in them. The list goes on.
I'd like these researchers to prove all these things are bad for us. Without a doubt. Prove it with evidence. Until then, here goes another Diet Pepsi down the hatch!
2 - Todd
Thanks for writing this. You know sodium benzoate is a preservative. Therefore, one would think that it would be harmful to bacteria, or yeast.
I'm going to go have another diet coke...
and not worry about it :)
3 - Shamus
Its correct, diet soda is a health damaging beverage. Choosing natural habits is better than adopting artificial things like diet soda. Diet plan prepared by professionals like Diet4idiots is give good results.
4 - John Dragon
I find it interesting that not only are these "Cells" damaged or destroyed, but that the "EVIL" compound is doing just what it is supposed to do. Sodium benzoate is a preservative. It is bacteriostatic and fungistatic under acidic conditions. Yeast is a *drum roll please* a Fungus. That's right..the same Organisms it is supposed to kill!
5 - Personal Trainer
Sodium Benzoate is in most, close to all, sodas, not just "Diet Sodas". It's also in flavored waters and soda pop. It's much worse for "your looks" than salt! I know many bodybuilders and fitness models who will never drink pop because of the preservatives, which, by the way, includes many alcoholic drinks which include soda drinks. Most sodas include glucose or sugar, which much be preserved, because will go bad in a matter of minutes, let alone hours. Manufacturers could use Vitamin C or Vitamin E as a preservative - good for the consumers, but costs more. So they use something "bad" for us. I think people will catch on to this in the long run.