Influence of various parameters on the browning of potassium sorbate in the presence of amines.

Potassium sorbate can undergo oxidation to form carbonyl moieties and cause browning. This investigation studied the fate of the compounds produced by auto-oxidation of potassium sorbate and measured the browning in the presence of amines. Experimental plans in which four factors were combined (temperature, oxygen, amine and light) led to the observation that the interaction between oxygen and high temperature (75 degrees C) favoured browning, independently of the presence of amine.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of sorbic acid-amine reaction products.

Sorbic acid (E200) and its salts (potassium and calcium sorbate: E202 and E203) are allowed for use as preservatives in numerous processed foods. Sorbic acid had a conjugated system of double bonds which makes it susceptible to nucleophilic attack, sometimes giving mutagenic products. Under conditions typical of food processing (50-80 degrees C), we analysed the cyclic derivatives resulting from a double addition reaction between sorbic acid and various amines.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of sorbic acid-amine reaction products.

Sorbic acid as well as potassium and calcium sorbate (E202 and E203) are legally used as preservatives in numerous processed foods. Owing to its system of conjugated double bonds, sorbic acid is likely to undergo a nucleophilic attack, which may turn it into mutagenic products. The cyclic derivatives resulting from a double addition reaction between sorbic acid and various amines at two different temperatures (50 degrees C and 80 degrees C) have been analysed.

Genotoxicity study of reaction products of sorbic acid.

Sorbic acid (E200) and its salts (potassium and calcium sorbate: E202 and E203) are allowed for use as preservatives in numerous processed foods. Sorbic acid has a conjugated system of double bonds which makes it susceptible to nucleophilic attack, sometimes giving mutagenic products. Under conditions typical of food processing (50-80 degrees C), we analyzed the cyclic derivatives resulting from a double addition reaction between sorbic acid and various amines.

Chemical and toxicological studies of products resulting from sorbic acid and methylamine interaction in food conditions.

Sorbic acid has a system of conjugated double bonds which makes it able to undergo nucleophilic addition reactions with certain functions. The interactions between sorbic acid and an amine present in the endogenous constituents of food were quantified. We demonstrated the formation of new products and studied the underlying mechanisms using ethyl sorbate and various amines.