Preservatives in food supplements

Food additives are used to preserve, color, and stabilize foods and food products such as food supplements during their production, packaging, or storage. Among additives, the main function of preservatives is to prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that can cause spoilage and contamination. Their aim is to extend the shelf life of the product so that it remains safe to consume and effective for a longer period of time.

Additives in foods and food supplements may only be used if they are recognized as safe and are indicated on the label. Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008 sets out in detail all the rules for food additives authorized for use in food and the conditions for their use. The list of authorized food additives approved for use can be found in the Annex of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1130/2011 which amends Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. The EU has introduced a detailed labeling system for food additives to enable consumers to make informed choices about foods containing preservatives. The legislation also requires additives to be labeled on food packaging with either their name or their E-number, depending on their category (preservative, colorant, antioxidant, etc.).

The use of preservatives in processed foods has always been discussed as a health and safety issue. Most liquid formulations of food supplements that are water-based may be prone to microbial growth when exposed to the environment.

Preservatives in food supplements

The most commonly used preservatives for food supplement formulations are sodium benzoate (E211) and potassium sorbate (E202), usually at a concentration of 1000 mg/L or mg/kg. Both are highly effective in inhibiting the growth of molds, yeasts and bacteria in food and food products.

The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavorings (FAF) has established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for:

– Sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202) to 11 mg/kg body weight per day, expressed as sorbic acid

– Benzoic acid (E 210), sodium benzoate (E 211), potassium benzoate (E 212) and calcium benzoate (E 213) to 5 mg/kg body weight per day, expressed as benzoic acid

The risk of consuming food supplements with preservatives is that they may contain potentially harmful chemicals such as parabens, formaldehyde, and propylene glycol, which can be toxic if consumed in large quantities. On the other hand, some preservatives can cause allergic reactions in some people and can also interact with other medications. Therefore, it is important that the label of a food supplement reflects the truth about its composition to ensure that it does not contain any potentially harmful additives.

In our laboratory, we measure the content of preservatives in food supplements using the validated HPLC-UV method, which is recognized as the analytical method of choice for the determination of preservatives due to its efficiency and accurate test results.

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