Antioxidants/Antioxidant Food Additives

Antioxidants are used as food additives to preserve food for a longer period of time. Antioxidants act as oxygen scavengers as the presence of oxygen in the food helps the bacteria to grow that ultimately harm the food. In the absence of antioxidant food additive oxidation of unsaturated fats takes place rendering to foul smell and discoloration of food.

Different kinds of antioxidants foods act in a different ways but the end result is to delay or minimize the process of oxidation in food. Some antioxidants foods additives combine with oxygen to prevent oxidation and other prevent the oxygen from reacting with the food leading to its spoilage.

What is Oxidation?

Oxidation in a food is the process that occurs when food is exposed to oxygen. In food oxidation is a destructive process leads to the spoilage of food and changes the chemical composition as well as nutritional value of food. To prevent this or delay the process of oxidation, antioxidants foods additives are added in the food. They increases the shelf life of the food.

Oxidation of Fats

Fats and oils and any food containing them are more prone to oxidation. SO these must have antioxidant foods to prevent oxidation. The list of foods where antioxidants are added is vegetable oil, animal fat, meat, fish, poultry, baked products, potato products, margarine, salad dressing etc.

Popular Antioxidant Foods

Antioxidant Vitamins - Ascorbic Acid- E300

Antioxidant vitamins include Ascorbic acid (vitamin C). this antioxidant vitamin is used in beers, cut fruits, dried potatoes and jams. The antioxidant vitamins in these foods helps in preventing the discoloration of food by preventing the oxidation. It can also act as a substitute of vitamin C in potatoes that is lost during processing.

Citric Acid - E330

It is used in biscuits, jams, tinned fruits, alcoholic drinks, cheese and dried soup. It has many uses like it prevents the discoloration of food, increases the anti-oxidant effect of other substances and regulates pH in jams and jellies.

Tocopherols - E306

This antioxidant food additive is used in the meat pies and oils to reduce the oxidation of fatty acids and vitamins.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) - E320

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is used in margarine, oils, crisps and cheese. This antioxidant helps in preventing the reactions leading to the breakdown of fats.

Antioxidants Benefits

There are many benefits of using antioxidant food additives. Antioxidants prevent the blockage of arteries with fatty deposits that prevents the heartattacks. Also these are associated with the prevention of certain types of cancers, arthritis and more conditions of these kinds.

Antioxidants Food Additives List

E300	Ascorbic acid
E301	Sodium ascorbate
E302	Calcium ascorbate
E304	Fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid
E306	Tocopherols
E307	Alpha-tocopherol
E308	Gamma-tocopherol
E309	Delta-tocopherol
E310	Propyl gallate
E311	Octyl gallate
E312	Dodecyl gallate
E315	Erythorbic acid
E316	Sodium erythorbate
E312	Dodecyl gallate
E319	Tertiary-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ)
E320	Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
E321	Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
E 330	Citric Acid
E586	4-Hexylresorcinol