In male white mice, certain food additives like potassium bromate and a type of caramel coloring seem to lower sperm count after a few weeks, which might hurt their ability to reproduce, but sodium benzoate doesn’t seem to have a big effect even though there’s a small drop.

16

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

16

Community contributions welcome

16

Safety assessment of three common food additives: the reproductive, oxidative and enzymatic perspective

Cross-Sectional Study

Animal

The study looked at the same substances and doses in mice and found that potassium bromate and caramel reduced sperm count significantly, while sodium benzoate did not—just like the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

0

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Safety assessment of three common food additives: the reproductive, oxidative and enzymatic perspective

Score: 16

DOI: 10.1007/s44339-024-00007-5

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