Personal Blog of Econ Delos Santos

Hey, here are some fast and hard facts about food preservatives. Do you know that almost everything that we eat nowadays use some sort of preservatives? Yes they do.

Check out these facts:

• Manufacturers add preservatives during processing to keep the food fresh, as well as prevent fats and oils, and food containing them, from developing an off-flavor. Preservatives improve food safety, slow product spoilage caused by mold, air, bacteria, fungi, or yeast and help control contamination that can cause food-borne illness including, life threatening botulism.

• There are 2 types of preservatives – namely, natural and artificial. The main difference between the two is that the previous is found in and made by nature, while the latter is synthetically derived or man-made. There are many natural preservatives, such as salt, vinegar, sugar, and saltpetre (potassium nitrate), which have been used to preserve meat and vegetables. Artificial preservatives such as sulphites help prevent color changes in fruits and vegetables and inhibit bacterial growth in wine, fermented foods, some snack foods, and baked goods. Sulphites also have antioxidants properties.

• Except for the food grown in your own garden, practically all food products have preservatives, or have undergone preservation process to keep it fresh longer. Almost every manufacturer adds preservatives to food during processing, in order to prolong a product’s freshness.