Preservatives and flavor enhancers

Preservatives are substances suppressing the growth of microorganisms in a product. In this regard, as a rule, they preserve the product from bad flavor and smell, mold growth and formation of toxins of bacterial origin. In modern food industry of any country there are certain requirements towards preservatives. First of all, they should be harmless for people. Also additives should not have chemical reaction with materials the product package is made of. Preservatives should not reduce the dietary value of products or give a foreign taste or flavor to food. Though, in some cases a preservative actually gives the desired taste qualities to the product.