Acesulfame potassium is a zero-calorie sweetener that is added to many sugar-free…
Menu
Sorbic Acid
Sorbic Acid
Sorbic Acid
What is it:
Sorbic acid (E200) is a naturally occurring organic compound found in certain berries that is used as a food preservative due to its antimicrobial properties. It is particularly effective against molds, yeast, and some bacteria, helping to extend the shelf life of various food products. Sorbic acid is normally synthetically produced through the condensation of malonic acid with trans-butenal derived from crotonaldehyde. It is used in a range of food items, including baked goods, cheese, beverages, and condiments.
Rating:
Sorbic acid is a naturally occurring anti-fungal compound, however, it is usually synthetically created for use as a food preservative. Animal studies have suggested no adverse effects from consumption, however, human research is lacking. Under extreme conditions unlikely to occur in normal food production, sorbic acid may react with nitrites to form mutagenic compounds.
Resources:
- Food applications of sorbic acid (review)
- Sorbic acid does not demonstrate mutagenic or genotoxic activities (in vitro studies)
- Toxicology of sorbic acid (review)
- Antifungal properties of sorbic acid extracted from berries (review)
- EFSA opinion on the follow‐up of the re‐evaluation of sorbic acid (review)
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)
Top Ingredients To Avoid
Almond extract is a concentrated liquid flavoring derived from almonds, commonly used…
Recent Articles
Not all flavors, or oils are created equal!
The Food Showdown: Popcorners flavors
Ingredient Rating: Canola oil – is it bad for you?
Clean Consuming: Nourishment for your
Is It Clean 2023 Recap + Our top 3 Tips for a Healthier 2024
We have accomplished so much in just 1 year since our launch in March of 2023! We now have 10,000
Food Showdown: Nacho Chips
The Nacho Chip Food Showdown, is Tapioca Starch safe in food? and a must-see documentary on America’s food system.