Sodium benzoate significantly worsens my fibro pain, oddly enough.  I'm not allergic to it, per se, but it's not good for me.  So sometimes when I'm craving a soda, I have to decide which will hurt more:  the craving and the tension from that or the soda itself.  :p

For shampoo, I use AFM SafeChoice (least expensive when ordered from NEEDS).  For conditioner, I make my own with flakes I order online.

Thank you both very much much. I've been having a good read of it, don't feel so alone now.

Patch testing also showed allergy to perfume mix one, so been doing some shopping for products that are unscented and don't contain the benzos... It's a mission lol

Hoping my immune system, rashes and urticaria and asthma are gonna calm down soon

More re: this substance in particular (well, there are a family of them, chemically speaking-- but if you are referring to benzoate anion in particular, most of this is going to be relevant to you):

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/521354

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15491435


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_benzoate

http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/saccharin-denatonium-benzoate.aspx

https://www.facebook.com/BenzoateIntoleranceSupport

www.seattlederm.org/documents/Campbell.pdf



HTH. 

I don't know how accurate this is, but it might be a good starting point for avoidance in foods:

http://www.befoodsmart.com/ingredients/sodium-benzoate.php

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone else has allergies to these chemicals?
Patch testing has shown these as allergies, benzoaic acid was an immediate and extreme reaction. I've been told to avoid all products containing these and being referred to a dietician for the food side of it. I'm struggling to find shampoo conditioner etc without it in

Kimbles