SourceIngredients

Antioxidants

17 ingredients from 23 Chinese manufacturers

The first question is which phase needs protecting. Ascorbic Acid, Erythorbic Acid and Sodium Erythorbate are water soluble and guard the aqueous phase, scavenging oxygen in cured meat, beverages and brines. Erythorbic acid is the stereoisomer of ascorbic acid with the same reducing power but no vitamin activity, which makes it the cheaper choice where nutrition is not claimed. Ascorbyl Palmitate carries the same reducing group into fat.

The second question is mechanism. TBHQ, also listed as Tertiary Butylhydroquinone, and Carnosic Acid from rosemary interrupt the radical chain in oils, and TBHQ survives frying temperatures better than most alternatives, although it is not permitted everywhere, so the destination market decides. Disodium EDTA scavenges no radicals at all: it binds the trace iron and copper that would otherwise start oxidation, and it works alongside the others rather than in place of them.

Sourcing from China

Ascorbic and erythorbic acid come from the same fermentation base in Hebei, Shandong and Jiangsu. Synthetic phenolic antioxidants are made in Jiangsu, Shandong and Anhui by chemical producers rather than food specialists, so food grade documentation should be confirmed rather than assumed. Rosemary extract for carnosic acid is processed in Shaanxi and Yunnan, and the useful specification is carnosic acid assay together with whether the extract has been deodorised, since an undeodorised extract carries rosemary flavour into the finished oil.

All Antioxidants

Manufacturers of Antioxidants