DNA and its precursors might interact with the food preservatives, sodium sulphite and sodium benzoate.

The interaction of sodium sulphite and sodium benzoate with nucleosides and DNA has been studied in vitro. Reduction in UV-absorbance was consistently noticed. However, no new products result from such interaction. It is likely that our previous observations of the effects of the 2 food preservatives on DNA synthesis and mitotis in Vicia faba root meristems is not due to direct action of the chemicals at the level of genetic material.