GC: n
S: EUFIC – https://www.eufic.org/en/whats-in-food/article/what-are-preservatives-and-what-are-common-examples-used-in-food (last access: 17 December 2023); MSU – https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/preservatives-keeping-our-foods-safe-fresh (last access: 17 December 2023).
N: 1. preservative (adj.): late 14c., preservatif, “tending to keep safe, sound, or free from harm,” from Old French preservatif and directly from Medieval Latin praeservativus, from stem of Late Latin praeservare “guard beforehand”.
The noun is from early 15c., “a preservative medication; substance that preserves corpses,” also generally “anything that preserves or maintains.” The sense of “chemical added to foods to keep them from rotting” is from 1875.
2. “Preservative” as a noun: substance added to chemicals, natural products, fabrics, or food products to preserve them against decay, discoloration, or spoilage.
3. Chemical preservatives are added as a precaution to extend the shelf life of products. They are a preventive method used to prevent oxidation and to reduce the microbial spoilage of foods by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds. Therefore, they cannot be used to cover up for poor quality raw materials.
4. The following are some synthetic preservatives commonly found in food:
- Calcium phosphate. It’s used to thicken and stabilize foods, and to prevent lumps from forming in baked goods.
- Sorbic acid. It occurs naturally in berries, and is used in wine, cheese and meats. It can also prevent mould and yeasts from growing.
- Nitrates and nitrites. When naturally occurring, these can be safe. Usually, though, nitrates/nitrites are used in meat to add colour and preserve shelf life. In large quantities, these preservatives can be carcinogenic, which is why if meat does not contain nitrates/nitrites, the producer will advertise that fact to increase sales.
- Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in some fruits and spices. Because it’s not water-soluble, sometimes sodium benzoate is used instead. Though both help limit microbial growth, benzoate contains small amounts of the carcinogen benzene.
- Used to prevent browning, sulfites often appear in ingredient lists as sulfur dioxide, potassium metabisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite or sodium bisulfite. Sulfites prevent dried fruits from rotting and are used to preserve fruit juices and wine. They’re considered safe but can impact people who suffer from asthma — even causing severe asthma attacks in rare instances.
- Plenty of sauces, canned foods and carbonated beverages contain EDTA, which stands for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It’s considered safe and helps prevent food from oxidizing, a process that can change the appearance and taste of the food, and turn food rotten.
- BHT and BHA. Like EDTA, these preservatives prevent oxidization. Butylated Hydroxytoluene and Butylated Hydroxyanisole are actually antioxidants — substances that can prevent or slow damage to cells caused by free radicals — and are seen as safe in limited amounts. BHA is waxy in texture, and BHT is a powder, and they appear in cereals, dehydrated potato shreds and beverages.
S: 1. OED – https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=preservative (last access: 17 December 2023). 2. TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=preservative&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 17 December 2023). 3. FAO – https://www.fao.org/3/au117e/au117e.pdf (last access: 17 December 2023); MSU – https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/preservatives-refrigeration (last access: 17 December 2023). 4. CIFS – https://blog.foodsafety.ca/food-preservatives-what-are-health-risks (last access: 17 December 2023).
SYN: preservation agent, preservative additive, preserver, preserving agent. (depending on context)
S: TERMIUM PLUS – https://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-eng.html?lang=eng&i=1&srchtxt=preservative&codom2nd_wet=1#resultrecs (last access: 20 December 2023).
CR: orthorexia, thymol.
