Because people have higher and higher requirements for the color, aroma and taste of food, it is difficult to completely leave preservatives in modern food processing, and it is said that preservatives are toxic to the human body. So what is a preservative? Why add preservatives to food? Are preservatives really harmful to the body? To solve these questions above, friends can take a look at the following article.
Preservatives are natural or synthetic chemical ingredients used to be added to foods, pharmaceuticals, pigments, and biological specimens to delay the growth of microorganisms or the spoilage caused by chemical changes. Of course, we are most concerned about food preservatives, at present, our national regulations can use food preservatives are sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate and so on.
In the process of food transportation, storage and sales, due to the rapid growth and reproduction of microorganisms, it will lead to the spoilage of food, and even some bacteria and fungi will produce a large number of toxins, and people will easily cause food poisoning after eating this spoiled food. For example, the sodium nitrite we add to ham and lunch meat is to inhibit the growth of Botulinum, the botulinum toxin secreted by Clostridium botulinum is the most toxic substance known at present, and people may be poisoned after eating food contaminated with this bacteria - even life-threatening when it is serious. Therefore, by adding food preservatives to control the activity of microorganisms, inhibit food spoilage, extend the shelf life, and thus ensure the safety of food.
Many people mention preservatives and often think that they are harmful to the body. In fact, in a broad sense, any substance is toxic, there is a famous saying in the field of food safety, "everything is toxic, the key is in the dose." Including water and oxygen, which are indispensable in our lives, it can also cause water poisoning and oxygen poisoning under adequate dosage conditions. Studies have shown that under the same consumption amount, the toxicity of the commonly used preservative calcium propionate is comparable to the salt we eat every day, and potassium sorbate is only 1/2 of the salt. Our country has set strict standards for the use of food preservatives, including the scope of use and safe dosage. Therefore, as long as it is used within the maximum amount of additions stipulated by the state, any kind of preservative is safe.
It is true that preservatives are not good for the human body, although many processed foods add preservatives, and its dosage will not endanger people's health, but who can guarantee that the above instructions will be true? Instead of worrying about its safety, it is better to eat more fresh food and eat less deeply processed packaged foods, such as quick-frozen dumplings, bottled drinks and so on. A reasonable diet and balanced nutrition are more beneficial to good health!