What is the Chemistry of Food Additives and Preservatives?

Echemi.com is your main source for all you need to know about the chemistry of food additives and preservatives. With increasing threats to food resources and disruptions in shipping, it is vital to find the best sources for all of your food preservation and additive needs.

Echemi specializes in supplying essential additives and preservatives needed in the production of foods, from antioxidants to sweeteners to preservatives, using state-of-the-art technology. Ranked #55 on the ICIS list of Top 100 Chemical Distributors for 2022, Echemi will help you in your quest to produce the best food products with optimal taste, quality and shelf life.

The Chemistry of Food Additives and Preservatives by Echemi

Just a few of the essential food additives made by Echemi include antioxidants such as tea tree oil, distilled from the twigs and leaves of the tea tree which grows in Australian and Asia; vitamin E D-alpha Tocopherol, made from Vitamin E; and tea polyphenol, derived from tea leaves, a powerful anti-cancer compound which is known to inhibit cell proliferation.

Tea tree oil, an antiseptic that is strong enough to be used as a disinfectant and deodorant, also can be utilized as a cosmeceutical, in personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, soap, lotions, creams and moisturizers. This astonishingly useful substance, one of the most desirable additives used in manufacturing today, has a pleasing, woodsy fragrance that can even be used as a flavoring when employed as a food additive.

Tea polyphenol, in green tea extract, is an additive used for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Clinical studies show that green tea extract delays or prevents the onset of cancer and heart disease by inhibiting the activity of free radicals in our cells, paving the way for its use in anti-aging preparations as well.

Vitamin E D-alpha Tocopherol, derived from Vitamin E, is a fat-soluble antioxidant. The most bioactive of natural Vitamins, E occurs naturally in green vegetables, grains and sunflower, safflower and palm oils. Studies have shown that taking Vitamin E slows memory loss in Alzheimer's patients; it is also used to treat menstrual cramps and some blood disorders. It is commonly used as a means to prevent vitamin deficiency as a food additive.

Food Ingredients and Preservatives From Natural Sources

Echemi also offers a range of ingredients and additives that preserve food naturally. Derived from natural sources such as unripe berries, sorbic acid is used to prevent spoiling in meats since it inhibits the growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria; this acid also reduces the number of nitrites in meats, which are known to create carcinogenic nitroamines.

Ethoxyquin, so important in food preservation, is an antioxidant which is especially useful for preventing the browning of pears as well as the degradation of fats in pet foods and the oxidization of some spices, which causes them to lose their original, vibrant colors. In the United States it is used as a food additive for spices such as paprika, chili powder and ground chili as well as farm animal feeds.

Calcium propionate, a natural organic salt that results from calcium hydroxide acting with propionate, is a very common preservative in baked goods, from breads to muffins and pastries of every kind. Available from Echemi, this valuable food additive inhibits the growth of mold, one of the main causes of food spoilage. It plays an important role in the chemistry of food additives and preservatives since it also inhibits the growth of other harmful microorganisms; it is used in a whole host of products, including cheeses, powdered milk, yogurt, fruit drinks, beer, wine and meats, as well as tobacco products and pharmaceuticals.

Nutritional Supplements From Echemi

Vitamin B6, which is naturally present in yeast, liver and cereals, transports protein in the body and helps in the uptake of thaimine; when used as a supplement, it has also shown promise as an antioxidant in studies on subjects with Alzheimer's disease.

DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid occurring in fish, is also part of the arsenal of antioxidants used in the fight against the effects of aging, including memory loss and declines in cognition. Just one of the many food additives and preservatives offered by Echemi, it is used in blood pressure and cholesterol control as well.