Question

Rancidity can be prevented by -
This question has multiple correct options
(A) adding antioxidants
(B) packing oily food in nitrogen gas
(C) packing oily food in argon gas
(D) use of spices

Answer 1

Hint: Rancidification process is known to spoil food. So, try to understand the factors that make oily food unfit for consumption after sometime. These factors make the food rancid. Now the reaction can be prevented by addition of substance that stops the reaction from taking place. Now form a concise idea in order to arrive at the correct answer.

Complete step by step answer:
Rancidification is the process in which complete or incomplete oxidation or hydrolysis of fats or oils take place. This happens when the food substance is exposed to air, light or moisture or even bacterial action leading to the foul taste and odor.
More often, it is the hydrolysis of autoxidation of fats into small chain carbonyl compounds like aldehydes and ketones.
Antioxidants are often used as preservatives in fat-containing foods in order to delay the process of oxidation to prevent rancidification of the food substance.
Oily foods are usually packed along with nitrogen gas. Nitrogen prevents the food from any further oxidation and makes the surrounding inert due to its characteristic property. Along with this, it is seen that addition of spices reduces the rate of oxidation in food items as well.
So, the correct answer is “Option A,B and D”.

Note: Although the natural preservatives are seen to reduce the oxidation process, the effective ones are the synthetic antioxidants. Synthetic antioxidants include butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ethoxyquin.