The preservative additives
If you go to your pantry, or to the refrigerator, and you look at the labeling of a food product or packaged food that you take at random, you are probably among its ingredients with those labeled as Food Additives. And is that, as its name suggests, the so-called food additives are substances or compounds that serve the function of improving the appearance, aroma or flavor of food, or avoid its natural oxidation, or extend its expiration period.
Precisely in this sense, depending on their property, quality or purpose, there are different and different types of food additives: colorants, preservatives, emulsifiers, antioxidants and stabilizers.
What are preservative additives?
Those known as preservatives additives are substances or compounds that delay or prevent the natural rot of food, as a result of the presence of microorganisms (such as fungi, bacteria or yeast).
The truth is that we can not only find preservatives in packaged food products. Also in medications. However, when different preservatives are added simultaneously to the same food, it is necessary to know that the maximum legally permitted dose is reduced depending precisely on the number of substances or compounds that have been used.
So, for example, if two preservatives have been used at the same time it is reduced by half. And when three preservatives have been used, it is reduced to one third ... So on.
How preservative additives are declared
As with all other food additives, preservative additives should be included in the package of the food product; In case of non-packaged products, they should be stated on a label placed next to the product.
We must differentiate those preservatives that are only added to food (and digested next to it), and preservatives that can only be used on the surface of food.
What foods may contain preservatives?
- Mayonnaise and prepared sauces.
- Canned fish and seafood.
- Pastry products.
- Products made with fish.
- Candies.
- Sausages, blood sausages and other sausages.
Image | Paul Hickman This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist.
