Question

What are food preservatives? Give examples.

Answer 1

Hint: Try to recall that preservatives protect food from spoilage by making sure micro - organisms don’t have the right conditions to grow. They also enhance food palatability. Now by using this you can easily answer the given question.

Complete step by step solution:
-It is known to you that a food preservative is a substance or chemical that is added to food and beverages. It prevents decay of food happening due to microbes.
-Food preservatives are of two types:
1. Natural preservatives:
2. Artificial preservatives.
-Natural preservatives: Those preservatives which are derived from natural sources are called natural preservatives. For examples: oregano and raspberry extract, vinegar, alcohol, salt, sugar and castor oil, etc. Garlic and clove with honey, ginger cinnamon also make flavourful natural food preservatives.
-Artificial preservatives: Chemical substances that delay or stop the growth of bacteria in foods, spoilage, and discoloration are called food preservatives. For example- Benzoates, sulphates, Propionates, Nitrates, and Sorbates. These artificial preservatives can either be added to the food or sprayed on it.
-Other examples of food preservatives are Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA).

Note:
-It should be remembered to you that artificial preservatives are beneficial to us as they not only help to preserve the food but also enhance its palatability along with protecting the food against oxygen reactive species.
-Also, you should remember that the potential adverse effects of artificial preservatives are due to some chemicals present in the preservatives.