CHEMICAL FOOD PRESERVATIVES
Chemical food preservatives are also being used for quite some time now. They seem to be the best and the most effective for a longer shelf life and are generally full proof for the preservation purpose.
Antimicrobial preservatives prevent degradation by bacteria. This method is the most traditional and ancient type of preserving—ancient methods such as pickling and adding honey prevent microorganism growth by modifying the pH level. The most commonly used antimicrobial preservative is lactic acid. Common antimicrobial preservatives are presented in the table. Nitrates and nitrites are also antimicrobial.
| Antimicrobial preservatives | ||
| E number | chemical compound | comment |
| E200 – E203 | sorbic acid, sodium sorbate and sorbates | common for cheese, wine, baked goods, personal care products |
| E210 – E213 | benzoic acid and benzoates | used in acidic foods such as jams, salad dressing, juices, pickles, carbonated drinks, soy sauce |
| E214 – E219 | parabens | stable at a broad pH range, personal care products |
| E220 – E228 | sulfur dioxide and sulfites | common for fruits, wine |
| E249 – E250 | nitrites | used in meats to prevent botulism toxin |
| E251 – E252 | nitrates | used in meats |
| E270 | lactic acid | – |
| E280 – E283 | propionic acid and propionates | baked goods |
| E338 | phosphoric acid | used in some jams, preserves and carbonated drinks; also used for acidification and for flavouring. |
| n/a | isothiazolinones (MIT, CMIT, BIT) | home and personal care products, paints/coatings |
| n/a | formaldehyde releasers (DMDM hydantoin) | home and personal care products |
Antioxidants
The oxidation process spoils most food, especially those with a high fat content. Fats quickly turn rancid when exposed to oxygen. Antioxidants prevent or inhibit the oxidation process. The most common antioxidant additives are ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and ascorbates.[11] Thus, antioxidants are commonly added to oils, cheese, and chips.
| E number | chemical compound | comment |
| E300-304 | ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate | cheese, chips |
| E321 | butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole | also used in food packaging |
| E310-312 | gallic acid and sodium gallate | oxygen scavenger |
| E220 – E227 | sulfur dioxide and sulfites | beverages, wine |
| E306 – E309 | tocopherols | vitamin E activity |