Potassium Sorbate Usage and Precautions

    Potassium sorbate, also known as potassium 2,4-hexadienoate, is a preservative with the molecular formula C6H7O2K. it is a white to light yellow scaly crystal, crystal particles or crystal powder, odorless or slightly foul-smelling, and it is susceptible to moisture absorption, oxidative decomposition and discoloration after prolonged exposure to air. Potassium sorbate is easily soluble in water, soluble in propylene glycol and ethanol, but its preservative effect is small under neutral conditions. It is often used as a preservative for products such as food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and has a high degree of safety, with a much lower toxicity than other preservatives.

    Potassium sorbate can be used in the following ways:

    Direct addition: added when making cosmetics or detergents, it can effectively extend the shelf life.

    Spraying the surface: Applied to fruits and vegetables, it can reduce bacterial growth and deterioration and prolong the shelf life.

    Food dry powder spray: used to prevent the deterioration of dried fruit spices or cigarettes, it can be sprayed on the surface of food to achieve preservation effect.

    It is important to note that the use of preservatives should be kept to a minimum, as they may have an impact on health.

    There are a few points to note when using potassium sorbate:

    Potassium sorbate has a good preservative effect under acidic conditions and a poor preservative effect under neutral and alkaline conditions. Therefore, care should be taken to control the pH when adding to food.

    Potassium sorbate should be added at a later stage of the heating process for foods that require heating to prevent high temperatures from destroying the potassium sorbate.

    Potassium sorbate should not be stored for a long period of time as it is susceptible to moisture absorption, oxidative decomposition and discoloration when exposed to air for a long period of time.

    Potassium sorbate should be prohibited in foods for children.

    As the solubility of potassium sorbate is low, the appearance of crystals in food may affect the appetite of the consumer, so it should be fully dissolved before adding into food.

    In conclusion, when using potassium sorbate as a food preservative, attention needs to be paid to the control of pH value, timing of addition, preservation methods, etc. to ensure its effectiveness. Meanwhile, relevant regulations and rules should be observed to prohibit the use of potassium sorbate in children's food.