Antimicrobial preservatives in foods

A range of antimicrobial preservatives has been used in foods for many years and, in spite of demand for preservative-reduced and preservative-free foods, continues to be used to some extent. These preservatives are discussed below. For a broad overview of common antimicrobial preservative use in foods see Smith (1991) and Wagner and Moberg (1989). 

Sorbic acid (2,4-hexadienoic acid) is used in salad cream, wine and baked goods as an antimycotic. It is effective in relatively acidic products with a pH of usually less than 4.8. 

Benzoic acid (C6H5CO2H) is used in acidic products such as soft drinks, pickles and fruit juice and is effective against yeast and moulds and some bacteria. 

The parabens (QH4(OH)C02R where R=CH3, C2H5, C3H7 or CtH.s) are effective to higher pH and may be used in relatively neutral products. The heptyl ester is used in beer, while the others are used in a similar range of products as benzoic acid. 

Propionic acid (C3H6O2) is effective against moulds but not yeast, so can be used in bread to prevent surface mould growth, especially in sliced bread. It has been largely superseded by acetic acid (vinegar) in recent years because of consumer preference (see chapter 4). 

---

Boric acid is used as an antimicrobial preservative in eye drops,cosmetic products, ointments, and topical creams. It is also used as an antimicrobial preservative in foods. 

Uses Antimicrobial, preservative in foods (fruit, preserves, soft drinks, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics biocide for latexes and emulsions dental anesthetics preservative in food-pkg. adhesives... 

Uses Intermediate for cationic surfactants softener/antistat in hair conditioners germicide in foods, water treatment (duckweed killer), petroleum, textiles dispersant in paints antistat/disinfectant in plastics, pulp/paper dye leveling agent antimicrobial, preservative in foods, cosmetics antimicrobial in cane-sugar mills, pharmaceutical topicals organophilic surf, treatment agent in bentonite in food-pkg. adhesives... 

Sulfur dioxide, sulfites, and metabisulfites have had extensive use as antimicrobial preservatives in the food industry. In pharmaceuticals they have had a dual role, acting as preservatives and antioxidants. The sulfa dmgs, or sulfonamides, the first effective chemotherapeutic agents to be employed... 

Ethylparaben is widely used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics,food products, and pharmaceutical formulations. 

Ethylparaben and other parabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics, food products, and oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations. 

Methylparaben is widely used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics, food products, and pharmaceutical formulations see Table I. It may be used either alone or in combination with other parabens or with other antimicrobial agents. In cosmetics, methylparaben is the most frequently used antimicrobial preservative. ... 

Potassium benzoate is predominantly used as an antimicrobial preservative in a wide range of beverages, foods and some pharmaceutical formulations. Preservative efficacy increases with decreasing pH it is most effective at pH 4.5 or below. However, at low pH undissociated benzoic acid may produce a slight though discernible taste in food products. 

Sodium benzoate is used primarily as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. It is used in concentrations of 0.02-0.5% in oral medicines, 0.5% in parenteral products, and 0.1-0.5% in cosmetics. The usefulness of sodium benzoate as a preservative is limited by its effectiveness over a narrow pH range see Section 10. 

Naturally occurring organic acids, such as sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and acetic acid, are the most commonly used chemical preservatives in food and all have a broad antimicrobial spectrum (Plumridge et al., 2004). Benzoic acid, in particular, although mainly associated with fruit preservation, is used in many types of acidic food products (Suhr and Nielsen, 2004). Sorbic acid inhibits both molds and yeasts, and is used in a broad variety of food products (Sofos and Busta, 1981), including fine bakery products, confectionery, and bread (Suhr and Nielsen, 2004). 

Lysozyme is a good example of an enzyme that catalyzes chemical reactions in the cell. Lysozyme acts to kill bacteria by cleaving the covalent bond between the alternating polysaccharides that compose peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls. The human salivary defense proteins and lysozyme are known to exert a wide antimicrobial activity against a number of bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens in vitro. Therefore, these proteins, alone or in combinations, have been incorporated as preservatives in foods and pharmaceuticals as well as in oral health care products to restore saliva s own antimicrobial capacity in patients with dry mouth. These antimicrobials used in oral health... 

HMIS Health 3, Flammability 1, Reactivity 1 Uses External germicide biocide disinfectant antimicrobial, preservative for paints, latex coatings, emulsions, adhesives, glues, gums, textiles, leather goods, pharmaceuticals, topicals, esp. for starch and casein-based systems antiseptic defoamer in food-contact coatings and paper/paperboard preservative in food-contact animal glues Use Level 0.1-0.15% (injectables), 0.075-0.12% (topicals)... 

Uses Antimicrobial in cosmetics mildewcide, fungicide, preservative for adhesives, sealants, paints, and in lumber, construction, home improvement, textile, leather, and automotive industries antifungal preservative in food-pkg. adhesives preservative in side seam cements for food-contact containers antifungal preservative in food-contact sealants and caulking materials for repeated use Regulatory EDA21CFR 175.105,175.300,177.2600 Manuf/Distrib. ANGUS... 

Uses Antimicrobial, preservative in paints, topical pharmaceuticals, etc. paper mill slimicide food-pkg. adhesives in paper/paperboard in contact with aq./fatty foods Regulatory FDA21CFR 175.105,176.170 Trade Names Containing Acticide SPX Amerstat 251 Biochek 430 Biochek 850 Nipacide CBX A Nipacide Cl Nipacide Cl 15 NKC-640... 

Uses Antimicrobial, preservative in adhesives, latex emulsions, paints, cutting fluids, topical pharmaceuticals preservative in cosmetics, food-pkg. adhesives, food-contact PU resins preservative for pigment slurries and latexes used as pigment binders in food-contact paper/pa-perboard... 

Uses Fungicide antimicrobial, preservative in pharmaceuticals and foods preservative for cosmetics, dental prods., starches, adhesives clinical reagent (bilirubin assay) nucleating agent for plastics corrosion inhibitor for antifreeze coolants, metals in impregnated paper, emulsion paints, wrapping materials, aerosol cans, sol. cutting oils mfg. of dyes rust inhibitor mildew inhibitor mold inhibitor for tobacco flavor-... 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp., emits very toxic Cl" and NOx Uses Antimicrobial, preservative in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals intermediate in food-pkg. adhesives polymerization control agent in mfg. of paper/paperboard in contact with aq./fatty foods... 

Uses Antimicrobial active ingred. in germicides disinfectant antiseptic mildew preventive chemical intermediate preservative in polymer emulsions, adhesives, latex paints, metalworking cutting fluids, cosmetics disinfectant, algicide, slimicide for water treatment antimicrobial, preservative in pharmaceuticals preservative in food-pkg. adhesives... 

Synonyms Carbamodithioic acid, cyano-, disodium salt Cyanodithioimidocarbonate, disodium Imidocarbonic acid, cyanodithio-, disodium salt Empin cal C2N2Na2S2 Properties Orangish powd. m.w. 162.1 Uses Antimicrobial in cane-sugar and beet-sugar mills in food-pkg. adhesives slimicide in food-contact paper/paperboard preservative in food-contact animal glues Regulatory FDA 21 CFR 173.320, 175.105, 176.300, 178.3120, 181.30... 

---