Everything about Preservative totally explained
A
preservative is a natural or synthetic
chemical that's added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, wood, etc. to prevent
decomposition by microbial growth or by undesirable chemical changes.
Preservatives in wood
Preservatives may be added to
wood to prevent the growth of
fungi as well as to repel
insects and
termites. Typically
arsenic,
copper,
chromium,
borate, and
petroleum based
chemical compounds are used. For more information on wood preservatives, see
timber treatment,
lumber, and
creosote.
Preservatives in foods
Preservative
food additives can be used alone or in conjunction with other methods of
food preservation. Preservatives may be
anti-microbial preservatives, which inhibit the growth of
bacteria and
fungi, or
antioxidants such as
oxygen absorbers, which inhibit the
oxidation of food constituents. Common anti-microbial preservatives include
calcium propionate,
sodium nitrate,
sodium nitrite,
sulfites (
sulfur dioxide,
sodium bisulfite,
potassium hydrogen sulfite, etc.) and
disodium EDTA.
Antioxidants include
BHA and
BHT. Other preservatives include
formaldehyde (usually in solution),
glutaraldehyde (kills insects),
ethanol and
methylchloroisothiazolinone. The benefits and safety of many artificial food additives (including preservatives) are the subject of debate among
academics and regulators specializing in
food science and
toxicology.
Natural food preservation
Natural substances such as
salt,
sugar,
vinegar, and
diatomaceous earth are also used as traditional preservatives. Certain processes such as
freezing,
pickling,
smoking and
salting can also be used to preserve food. Another group of preservatives targets enzymes in fruits and vegetables that continue to metabolize after they're cut. For instance,
citric and
ascorbic acids from
lemon or other
citrus juice can inhibit the action of the enzyme phenolase which turns surfaces of cut apples and potatoes brown. Caution must be taken, however, since FDA standards don't currently require fruit and vegetable product labels to accurately reflect the type of preservative used in the products. Further, there's no current regulation requiring the inclusion of preservative chemical in labels at all; some potentially hazardous. While sometimes labeled as "natural" preservatives, most fruit and vegetable products contain carcinogenic chemicals.
Health concerns
Some modern synthetic preservatives have become controversial because they've been shown to cause respiratory or other health problems. Many studies point to synthetic preservatives and artificial coloring agents aggravating ADD & ADHD symptoms in those affected. Older studies were inconclusive quite possibly due to inadequate clinical methods of measuring offending behavior. Parental reports were more accurate indicators of the presence of additives than clinical tests. Several major studies show academic performance increased and disciplinary problems decreased in large non-ADD student populations when artificial ingredients, including preservatives were eliminated from school food programs. Allergenic preservatives in food or medicine can cause
anaphylactic shock in susceptible individuals, a condition which is often fatal within minutes without emergency treatment.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Preservative'.
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