Life has become so fast-paced and people get little time to make healthy foods at home. The lure and convenience of processed foods is too much to resist, for most of us. However, the thought of choosing healthy foods and using proper preservatives to extend their shelf life also occurs to you. Finding a balance between convenience and nutrition is seldom easy! You can buy fresh and minimally processed foods but they will spoil quickly without the usage of apt preservatives.
Food manufacturers use numerous preservation procedures to keep items fresh for long, while ensuring the nutritional value remains intact. Calcium propionate preservative is used widely for this purpose by plenty of food manufacturers.
Calcium propionate is one kind of organic salt and it is used as E282 in food preservation. Apart from baked and dairy foods, it is used in certain beverages and alcoholic drinks. This naturally occurring compound thwarts mold growth but does not change original flavor, texture, or nutritional value.
How to select healthy foods?
When buying food items, you should focus on minimal processing, nutritional value and freshness. Foods withsafe, approved preservatives make things easier.
- Freshness and nutritional value- Do not compromise with food freshness. It can be bakery, produce and dairy items but look at factors like aroma, color, texture. By using Calcium Propionate, manufacturers can extend the shelf life of so many foods. The risk of mold and bacteria growth goes down by a large margin.
- Finding a balance- It is a common misconception that using preservatives will make a dish unhealthy. You have to find foods with the right type of preservatives. Calcium propionate used in food does not lead to nutritional loss or any other risk, in general. It helps retain the original nutritional profile, flavor, and scent of the food unlike artificial additives.
- Paying attention to food labels- Are you in the habit of buying foods from the supermarket or local malls? While doing so, ensure you read the food labels carefully. Ideally, look for foods with minimal amounts of preservatives. It is better that you shop for foods with EFSA-regulated and FDA-approved preservatives like Calcium Propionate.
How food manufacturing brands choose preservatives?
With time, more food manufacturers have become aware of the need to choose suitable preservatives. Consumers are now looking for foods with a longer lifespan and that remain fresh without heavy processing and too many preservatives. They often choose Calcium Propionate Preservative to fulfill this objective.
- Food spoilage prevention
The main purpose of using a food preservative is to stop the formation and spread of mold and bacteria. Without preservatives, breads and other bakery foods will get affected by bacteria and mold quickly. That is why Calcium Propionate Used in Food by manufacturers.
- Industry-specific needs
Not all foods will benefit from using the same type of preservative. Here’s the basic guideline:
- Dairy foods- Cheese, tofu and similar dairy products stay fresh when mild preservatives are used to stop bacterial growth.
- Processed Meats- Those hamburgers, sausage and similar processed meat items gain from preservatives that thwart bacterial growth and oxidation.
- Bakery items- Cakes, pastries and donuts need Calcium Propionate as it serves as a good mold inhibitor.
Things to look for when choosing food additives
For buyers and food brands, selecting the right preservative products is a must. Here are the major factors to assess:
- Effectiveness- This is the first aspect to be analyzed. A good preservative should be able to thwart the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast in various food dishes. Calcium Propionate fares very well in these departments and that is why it has become a preferred choice for various food brands making dairy and bakery items.
- Safety and risk factors- It is quite necessary to choose food preservatives that are safe. Again, Calcium Propionate scores good marks for clearing the tests of entities like the EFSA and US FDA.
Are you still thinking about its safety in food preservation? The FDA has termed it as generally safe after extensive testing. Lab studies have shown it does not cause any major harm, except when the consumption is in high amounts. One nice thing is that the human body does not store this compound. It gets broken in your digestive tract and then gradually eliminated.
- Taste and texture- Food brands are particular about using preservatives that do not hamper the texture and taste of various dishes. Calcium Propionate has no specific flavor and so it is good for use in so many dishes. It will not alter the original flavor of the dishes.
Summing it up
When you want healthy foods, the focus should be on getting the balance between shelf life, nutritional value and freshness. Using preservatives is necessary for shelf-life extension but that should not come at the cost of nutritional loss and change in taste and flavor. Calcium Propionate strikes a fine ground and helps extend food shelf life while retaining taste and nutritional value.