ANSWER
According to Regulation 354 of Food Regulations 1985, flavoured drink shall be the soft drink composed of potable water and permitted flavouring substance, with or without sugar, glucose, high fructose glucose syrup or edible portions or extracts of fruit or other plant substance. It may contain carbon dioxide.
Flavoured drink may contain permitted preservative. Sodium benzoate is one of the permitted preservative as stipulated in Regulation 20 of Food Regulation 1985. The maximum permitted proportion of sodium benzoate is as following table:
| Food | Benzoic acid (or sodium benzoate calculated as benzoic acid) |
| Flavoured drink concentrate requiring more than 50 times dilution and the addition of sugar | *2000mg/kg |
| Soft drink for direct consumption excluding mineral water | 350mg/kg |
| Soft drink requiring dilution | *800mg/kg |
**indicates level before dilution.
Reference
Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2017). Food Regulations 1985. Regulation 354 & 20.
