2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
Modern food is already hard to imagine without the content of various stabilizers, oxidizers and other chemicals. In the general case, they are various additives that are simply necessary to impart color, taste or smell to the product, as well as to extend its shelf life. Today we will talk about the most common preservatives, as well as the degree of their effect on the human body.
What is a preservative
Preservatives include a wide group of substances that are designed to counteract the development of bacteria. By adding such chemical agents to food, it is possible to significantly increase the shelf life of products. The most famous preservatives that have been used since time immemorial include honey, sugar, s alt, wine, acetic and citric acid, and alcohol. They were used long before the development of the chemical and food industries. However, even today we still cook pickles or preserve vegetables and fruits from our summer cottage.
Preservatives can be natural or synthetic. And preservatives synthesized in the laboratory will not always be moredangerous to human he alth than those created by nature. According to the method of exposure, substances of this class are divided into those that modify the environment, thereby achieving the destruction of bacteria, and those that inhibit the vital activity of harmful microorganisms.
Preservative E202 - what is it?
One of the most common is the preservative E202, or in other words - potassium sorbate. It belongs to the group of natural substances. This substance is used for food preservation. Externally, the sorbate is a white granules or powder. It is extracted from the seeds of fruits of certain plants. In addition to natural, there is also a synthesized preservative E202. To do this, sorbic acid is neutralized with reagents. As a result, calcium, potassium and sodium s alts are obtained, which are used to obtain sorbates of the same name.
Preservative E202 has a high solubility (the best indicator among all sorbates). In one liter of water at room temperature, 138 grams of a substance can be dissolved. The allowable dosage of potassium sorbate is 0.1-0.2% by weight of the product. The use of this preservative is allowed in almost all countries of the world.
Using Potassium Sorbate
Potassium sorbate is used during the preservation of fruits and vegetables, meat and fish. It is also used during the preparation of eggs and confectionery, juices and soft drinks.
Preservative E202 inhibits the development of mold, and therefore it is also added to sausages andcheeses, rye bread. Due to the fact that the substance has no taste, it is often used in chocolate products. To extend the shelf life, the E202 preservative is used in dried fruits, oriental sauces, smoked meats, mayonnaises, jams, wines, etc.
Potassium sorbate shows good antimicrobial properties at high levels of acidity. Preservative E202 is almost always present in semi-finished and frozen foods.
E202 preservative is harmful or not?
To this day there is no consensus on this matter. Most scientists have recognized the harmlessness of this substance for the vast majority of the world's population. But some researchers believe that potassium sorbate, like any other preservative, does not benefit human he alth. In addition, several cases of severe allergic reactions to the substance have been reported.
Therefore, doctors have developed special standards that take into account the likelihood of an adverse result after using products with a preservative. This made it possible to recognize that products containing the preservative E-202 are absolutely safe for human he alth. So, for example, the rate of sorbate content in mayonnaise should not exceed 2 g per 1 kg of product. For fruit and berry puree and baby food, this figure is 0.6 g per 1 kg.
Preservative E211
The second most popular use is sodium benzoate. This substance can be found in low concentrations in prunes, cloves, apples, cranberries and cinnamon. Substanceis a white powder, odorless and tasteless.
The substance has a depressing effect on the activity of enzymes in microbial cells that are responsible for the breakdown of starches and fats. In addition, sodium benzoate has a strong effect on mold and other yeast cultures.
Negative action
Sodium benzoate can form benzene. This happens if the substance reacts with ascorbic acid. As a result of this interaction, a strong carcinogenic substance is formed that can damage mitochondrial DNA, which in turn leads to serious diseases.
In the modern scientific community there is a heated debate about the effect of E211 on children's hyperactivity. In view of this, major food manufacturers have taken steps to find alternative replacements for this substance.
In some states there is a ban on the use of preservative E211. In Europe and the CIS, this food supplement is permitted. In addition to the food industry, sodium benzoate is used in the pharmaceutical and aviation industries. It is also used to produce the sound effect in fireworks.
Preservatives E211, E202 and a number of other substances are indispensable in modern society. They allow you to receive and use products from the other side of the world. Without their use, one would forget about overseas juices and exotic fruits, oriental sauces and Swiss chocolate.
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