Pros
- Cheap and easy to manufacture
- stops fungal and microorganism growth in different products
- easily soluble, making it easier to put in products
- almost undetectable, doesn't really affect quality of product
- improves the shelf life of many different products
Cons
- May combine with ascorbic acid to create traces of benzene, a cancer causing substance
- Highly flammable, can easily erupt into flames when not handled carefully. Flames also release toxic gas
- Linked to causing hyperactivity in children with certain dyes
- larger quantities may damage and destroy mitochondrial DNA in cells, contributing to cancer