Saturday 21 September 2013

Preservatives in Cosmetic & Food products

Dear Readers,

We all each and every one at some point of time used the any kind of processed packed food or cosmetic products in our daily life....but the question arises in an common man's mind that how these products remain absolutely fit for use after such a long period...the answer is the use of preservatives in such products makes them to be in okay condition and increase the shelf life of product significantly but generally without any deterioration in the quality of product by any means....

The word "Preservative" can be broke down into two simple words Preserve + Additives i.e additives which are added to products to preserve it.By science community, the preservatives are classified into two categories-

i) Class I Preservatives- These are naturally occurring substances for example vinegar,salt,sugar,honey,vegetable oils, as most of them are used in a traditional way from ancient times specially in India...i have grown by seeing the use of these substances by my mother to preserve the food items for a longer duration and these class of preservatives are absolutely safe for the use.

ii) Class II Preservatives-  These are synthetic chemicals likes benzoates,sorbates & sulphities....

The most common preservatives used in the cosmetic products like shampoo,lotions,gels,shaving creams and toothpastes are "Parabens". Chemically parabens are para-hydroxybenzoate...for example methyl paraben,propyl paraben

But some recent research has indicates that Parabens are not very safe for human body for prolonged use..hence companies are studying currently to replace the parabens from product by a safer option of preservative.

Moving ahead in discussion,one of the another good example of the synthetic safe preservative called as Phenoxyethanol. Its synthesis having the basis of a ancient plant which isknown for its anti-microial and anti-bacterial properties.  

The following is the list of preservatives which are generally used in the cosmetics and processed packed food products, some of them are to be used in a well defined and manner and concentration by various food & cosmetic regulatory bodies throughout the world:

1) Formaldehyde and Paraformaldehyde
2) Salicyclic acid and its salt
3) Propionic acid and its salt
4) Sorbic acid & its salt
5) Sodium Iodate
6) Chlorobutanol
7) Triclosan
8) Benzyl alcohol
9) Sodium benzaote
10) Benzethonium chloride

The government regularities bodies has made the Law in such a way that every manufacturer has to declare the details of preservatives which they have added in the product..so be aware next time when you use a product that you are using a product with safe preservative added or not.......make yourself and your loved ones aware about the fact that preservatives are boon at the same time may be dangerously harmful to your body....

   

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