Food preservative used to maintain freshness and quality of food. However, you still need to be vigilant because there are certain types of food preservatives that are harmful to the body.
Food preservation is carried out as an effort to inhibit or prevent decomposition, acidification, fermentation, and other damage to food caused by bacteria, fungi, and microbes.
Food Preservation Process
The food preservation process is generally carried out by two methods. The first is traditional methods, such as drying, cooling, and fermentation. And the second is modern methods, such as canning, pasteurization, freezing, food irradiation and the addition of chemicals.
Some of the food preservative chemicals used in the process are safe for consumption and some can be harmful to health, such as formalin and borax.
These two hazardous materials are often used to preserve tofu, noodles, and meatballs, and are often added to children's snacks. If consumed in the long term, it can cause heart problems, respiratory system, kidney, skin, and even brain disorders.
Various Types of Food Preservatives to Avoid
In addition to formalin and borax, there are also three types of harmful food preservatives that must be avoided, namely:
- Sodium benzoate or sodium benzoateSodium benzoatee is an additive used as a preservative in various processed food and beverage products. Unfortunately, according to research, this food preservative is thought to increase the risk of hyperactive behavior and can cause cancer. Leukemia and other types of cancer can occur especially if sodium benzoate added to drinks that taste sour (artificial vitamin C). This mixture produces benzene, which is a chemical substance that causes cancer (carcinogenic).
- Sodium nitrate or sodium nitrateSodium nitrate is a food preservative used in processed meats, such as sausage, beef jerky, smoked fish or meat, and ham. According to allegations, sodium nitrate can increase the risk of heart disease because it can damage blood vessels, making the arteries tend to harden and narrow. Nitrates can also affect how the body uses sugar, making the body more susceptible to diabetes.
- TBHQTBHQ or tertiary butylhydroquinone or tert-butylhydroquinone is a preservative for processed foods. TBHQ is commonly used in vegetable oils, biscuits, noodles, frozen foods, or fast food, to extend the shelf life of products and prevent rancidity. This food preservative is often used in conjunction with other additives, such as propyl gallate, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Research has found that this ingredient may interfere with liver, nerve health, and promote tumor growth. In addition, it is also thought to be able to influence human behavior to become hyperactive and unable to focus on one thing (ADHD).
After knowing what types of food preservatives are dangerous, you are advised to first read the composition of ingredients and types of food preservatives listed on the packaging label, before buying it. Careful in choosing treatment is one step to maintain the health of your body and your family.