Sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and natamycin levels in doogh from Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq and health risk assessment.

This study aimed to examine the levels of sodium benzoate (SB), potassium sorbate (PS), and natamycin (NAT) in doogh samples collected during the winter and summer in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq, utilising high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV). Moreover, human health risks associated with these preservatives in doogh were assessed using Monte Carlo simulations. SB, PS, and NAT levels in the doogh ranged from <0.47 to 22.5 mg/L, <0.015 to 8.3 mg/L, and 1.4 to 11.5 mg/L, respectively. The levels of these preservatives in the doogh samples were within international standards. The estimated daily intake (EDI) values of SB, PS, and NAT in doogh were below the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Hazard quotient (HQ) data of SB and PS in doogh were below 1. Based on these findings, the obtained levels of preservatives in doogh do not pose a health risk to Iraqi consumers.