Determination of Sorbic Acid and Benzoic Acid: Analysis of Food Preservatives

Is it Harmful to Use Sorbic Acid and Benzoic Acid in Food? What are the Properties and Intended Use?

What is a Food Additive?

According to the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Food Additives, food additives are defined as “substances that, whether or not they have nutritional value, are not consumed as food alone and are not used as a characteristic component of food, and are expected to be a component of that food directly or indirectly as a result of being added to food during the production, treatment, processing, processing, preparation, packaging, packaging, transportation or storage stages for a technological purpose”.

Food additives; There are reasons for use such as preserving and increasing the nutritional value of food, improving textural properties, extending shelf life, preserving flavor and color, preventing microorganism growth, increasing quality standardization.

What are Sorbic Acid and Benzoic Acid?

Sorbic acid and benzoic acid are additives used as food preservatives. Sorbic acid (E200) is an additive that protects foods against fungi, bacteria and molds. The permitted amount of sorbic acid in foods varies between 0.5% and 0.0025%.

Benzoic acid (E210), the simplest member of the aromatic carboxylic acid family, is a weak acid that is a precursor to the synthesis of many important organic compounds. It is used to prevent spoilage of foods caused by microorganisms. It is especially used in jams, marmalade, fruit juice, ketchup, carbonated drinks and pickles.

Sorbic Acid:

Natural Form: Found naturally in fruits and vegetables. It is especially associated with fruits such as apples and grapes.
Usage: Controls microbial growth in foods and extends the shelf life of products.
Food Preservative: Used in bread, cheese, fruit juice, pickles and various processed foods due to its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Benzoic Acid:

Natural Form: Found in molds, fungi and some fruits.
Usage: It inhibits the growth of microorganisms by lowering the pH value, especially in acidic foods.
Food Preservative: Used in low pH products such as pickles, juices, sauces and marinades.

Both of these food additives are recognized as Food Safe (GRAS) by the FDA.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Sorbic Acid and Benzoic Acid Determination. We also provide services in the determination of Food Additives.

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