Know your Bread- Preservatives

upepo

Elder Lister
Arguably, Bread presents one of the most significant vehicles of unnecessary chemicals into the diet of the general population in this country. Some of these chemicals come in the form of preservatives, which make the bread last longer by preventing mold and bacteria growth. The most commonly used preservatives in bread are Calcium Propionate and Sodium Propionate. All bread, bought from the shop or supermarket, will contain one of these preservatives unless expressly indicated to be preservative free. Studies have linked calcium propionate with sleep disturbances, inattention, restlessness, and irritability in some children. In rare situations, it may lead to headaches and migraines. One human study linked propionate intake to the increased production of insulin and glucagon, a hormone that stimulates glucose (sugar) release.” This can lead to insulin resistance, a condition in which your body cannot use insulin properly, which may lead to type 2 diabetes. Countries where the preservative is banned include Russia, France, China and many other countries.

A normal 450g loaf will contain anything between 1.5 g to 2.5 g of calcium propionate. How much is 2.5g? In terms of mass, 2.5g is equivalent to 5 Panadol tablets. You can avoid unnecessary consumption of preservatives in bread by purchasing bread that is free from preservatives. A good number of supermarket outlets will have such bread, which costs the same as normal bread. Despite not containing preservatives, this bread can last for a good 3 days when stored in a cool dry environment. You have a choice to decide what your money buys.

Calcium propionate structure

1593757013874.png


A packet of Calcium propionate in powdered form.

1593757083914.png
 
Top