Potassium sorbate
Potassium sorbate is a compound that found both naturally and chemically. Although not more than 100 years have passed since the chemical production of this substance, at first this salt (substance), which has no special taste and smell, was obtained from the ashes of mountain berries in the mountains of America in the 1850s.
Then scientists were able to obtain this substance through the chemical formula C6H7KO2. The appearance of this material is in the form of white or colorless crystals; It is important to know that potassium sorbate is a derivative of ascorbic acid that found naturally in berries.
It should be noted that potassium sorbate prepared for use in the food industry that is free of any impurities such as lead, arsenic and mercury; because the presence of such additives caused the contamination in food.
Fortunately, potassium sorbate is non-flammable and explosive, and this can be a boon for potassium sorbate depots and storage tanks.
The properties of potassium sorbate
Potassium sorbate or E202 has anti-mold properties, but today this compound is mostly used to extend the life of food, and this point has increased the popularity of potassium sorbate, which not only can preserve food, but also has anti-fungal and mildew properties. Potassium sorbate is also used in the cosmetics industry as an antibacterial and antiviral agent.
Fortunately, researches has shown that use of potassium sorbate will not have any negative effects on the human body, but like any other chemical, the use of potassium sorbate is permissible and excessive use of this substance can irritate the skin and eyes, or DNA contamination. However, researches has shown that about one percent of the world’s population is allergic to potassium sorbate.
Food production monitoring organizations such as FDA and the International Food Safety Organization have stated that potassium sorbate poses no risk to food consumption in the amounts approved by these organizations. The process of excretion of this nutrient in the body will be in the form of water and carbon dioxide, and therefore it can be confirmed that potassium sorbate is safe for the body.
The maximum allowable dose of potassium sorbate for a normal human is about 25 mg. of course, we must emphasize again that about one percent of people in the world are allergic to potassium sorbate, and the most common reported allergies are skin allergies due to the use of cosmetics containing this substance.
Uses of potassium sorbate
As mentioned earlier, potassium sorbate has antibacterial and preservative properties, which is why many industries such as food, cosmetics, resin and rubber products, agricultural products and others use potassium sorbate in their production process.
Food industries
The use of potassium sorbate in foods to inhibit microbes and enzymes, prevent fungus and mildew and preservatives is so common. Using potassium sorbate as a preservative in food preserves the smell, taste and appearance of food for much longer period of time, and one of the important points about potassium sorbate in food is that the preserving activity of this substance doesn’t change at room temperature.
Potassium sorbate is used to preserve substances such as meat (fish, poultry and red meat), vegetables (vegetables with softer or harder textures) and fruits.
The use of potassium sorbate is also very common in restaurants, a prevalent example of which most people are aware of that, is the famous McDonald’s restaurants. In these restaurants, syrups, milkshakes and wines use potassium sorbate as a texture stabilizer for beverages.
In fact, the use of potassium sorbate has two major benefits for McDonald: First, when beverages such as wine are fermented, it can prevent further fermentation and create a homogeneous texture in beverages such as milkshake and syrup; And fortunately, as we said before, the use of potassium sorbate is not a health threat.
Pharmaceutical industries
Preservation is one of the important properties that makes potassium sorbate used in the pharmaceutical industry.
As we explained in the food industry section, potassium sorbate is used to preserve beverages and create a homogeneous texture in syrups.
Livestock and poultry feed industries
Due to the fact that livestock and poultry feed is usually prepared in large quantities, potassium sorbate is used to increase the life of these products.
In agriculture, potassium sorbate can be used to control pests and fungal growth. Pesticide poisons containing potassium sorbate and ascorbic acid do not harm plant and fruit tissues in any way, and therefore potassium sorbate is very popular in agricultural pesticide industries.
Cosmetics and skin care products
In general, the use of potassium sorbate in the production of cosmetics is very common; Because this product has antibacterial properties and kills microorganisms and prevents the growth and proliferation of harmful germs and bacteria in cosmetic products.
In addition, the use of potassium sorbate in cosmetic products increases the life of products and prevents corruption of them.