A New Organic Preservative

If you’re concerned about the health risks of preservatives in packaged foods, there may be good news on the horizon. Canada has recently developed what appears to be the first organic preservative. They claim this new, 100% natural preservative can successfully kill bacteria and other pathogens as effectively as chemical preservatives currently used to preserve foods. They’re hoping it will replace some of the commonly used synthetic preservatives that have raised so many red flags in terms of health.

Why is an Organic Preservative Needed?

Synthetic, chemical preservatives such as sodium nitrate and nitrite, and EDTA, among others, have raised concerns in terms of their potential health risks. Sodium nitrite, used as a preservative in meats such as packaged bacon and hot dogs, has been closely scrutinized as it’s known to cause cancer in animals and is believed to do the same in humans. Other preservatives have been linked to lung problems and allergic reactions in both humans and animals. The industry argues that these preservatives are present in such low concentrations that the health risks are minimal, but small exposures add up over a lifetime – especially in a society that eats so much processed food.

What’s It Made Of?

The new organic preservative developed in Canada has already received certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It’s called Biosecur and is made from the seeds, peels, and pulp of organic citrus fruits. Not only does it work quickly to destroy bacteria, molds, and yeast that can infect food, it also controls odors and preserves color – all without the use of synthetic chemicals. This natural organic preservative contains citrus bioflavonoids, compounds that have antioxidant activity which may further increase its desirability from a health standpoint. Biosecur is being marketed as a greener, more environmentally safe preservative and the developers hope it can be used not only for preserving foods, but also as a natural preservative in medical and personal care products.

When Will This Organic Preservative Be Available?

Unfortunately, no one when knows this new organic preservative will be added to products in the United States. It will take time for manufacturers to reformulate their offerings to accommodate this new preservative.  The developers of Biosecur believe it could also be used to replace some of the harmful chemicals that are currently used in the production of food. Hopefully, manufacturers will jump on board quickly so that synthetic preservatives can be gradually phased out of processed foods – for the health of all Americans.