Saturday, August 29, 2009

Understanding acidifiers

Common additives that increase the acidity (lower the pH) of foods and beverages. Acidifiers provide tartness and enhance flavors of processed foods. The increased acidity inhibits the growth of microorganisms; thus acidifiers act as preservatives. Certain acidifiers can also retard spoilage by acting as antioxidants, preventing chemical changes due to oxygen. This group of additives includes ADIPIC ACID (adipate), TARTARIC ACID (tartrate), benzoic acid (benzoate), and CITRIC ACID (citrate).

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