OxidationA chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons, the... More is a real problem for food products. OxidationA chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons, the... More, for example, causes raw apples and potatoes go brown, but this can prevented in the kitchen by adding lemon juice. It’s very effective because lemon juice contains a very strong antioxidantA substance which slows oxidation. – ascorbic acid or vitaminA vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in t... C (E300). By preventing or slowing down the oxidationA chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons, the... More process in foods, waste through spoilageThe rotting of food as a result of the action of bacteria. is reduced.

Many antioxidants occur naturally in fruit and vegetables, many of which are flavonoid compounds such as quercetin in onions and apples, and epigallocatechin in tea. The health benefits of these antioxidants are becoming clear, and many scientific studies have been carried out on them. OxidationA chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons, the... More can damage DNA leading to cancer, and can change polyunsaturated-fatty acidsIf a fatty acid chain contains two or more carbon-carbon dou... into forms that contribute to heart attacks and strokes. Increasing the consumption of antioxidants can have a preventative effect against cancer and heart disease, although it’s not clear yet which are the most effective.

Unsaturated fatsWhen there is one carbon-carbon double bond within the fatty... are particularly vulnerable to oxidationA chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons, the... More, and this causes them to turn rancidProcess in which fats exposed to the air undergo oxidation a.... These are some examples of antioxidantA substance which slows oxidation. food additives:

Ascorbic acid (E300), or vitaminA vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in t... C, is found in many different fruits. It is also commonly used as a flour improver.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (E320) is a synthetic antioxidantA substance which slows oxidation. which works by stabilising free radicalsReactive species which have an unpaired, or free, electron..

Butylated hydroxytoluene (E321) or BHT is another synthetic antioxidantA substance which slows oxidation.. It works in the same way as butylated hydroxyanisole, but has caused controversy, as it has produced adverse effects in dogs. However, it also has anticancer effects.

Propyl gallate (E310) is a synthetic antioxidantA substance which slows oxidation.. Its main food use is in products that contain oils and fatsCompounds which contain the elements carbon, hydrogen and ox....

Tocopherols (E306) are natural antioxidants which are forms of vitaminA vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in t... E. The most important sources are vegetable oils such as palm, corn, sunflower, soybean and olive.