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Calcium Propionate
Calcium Propionate
Calcium Propionate
What is it:
Calcium propionate is a food additive widely used as a preservative in various bakery and processed food products. It is the calcium salt of propionic acid, a naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid. The production of calcium propionate involves the reaction of propionic acid with calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate, resulting in the formation of the calcium salt. It is highly effective in inhibiting the growth of mold and bacteria, thereby extending the shelf life of food products. Calcium propionate is particularly popular in bread and bakery items, preventing the development of mold and maintaining freshness.
Rating:
Calcium propionate is considered GRAS, and a study in animals suggests it could positively modify gut microbial composition. However, it’s also been linked to behavioral effects in children and dietary propionate may negatively alter metabolic parameters in mice and humans. More quality, long-term, human research is needed to determine the safety of calcium propionate.
Resources:
- Dietary supplementation with calcium propionate beneficially alters rectal microbial composition of cows (animal study)
- Calcium propionate as a food preservative
- FDA GRAS approval of calcium propionate
- PubChem on calcium propionate
- Calcium propionate may be linked to behavioral effects in children (double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial)
- Propionate alters metabolic parameters in mice and humans (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study)
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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