Preservatives are not good for humans Biomedical Research Paper (Research Paper Sample)

Preservatives Are Not Good for Humans
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Preservatives Are Not Good for Humans
Introduction
Preservatives are synthetic or natural substances that are added to various foods including vegetables, fruits, as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics for purposes of lengthening their shelf life. The underlying mechanism is that preservatives slow down or prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms thus preventing spoilage. As such, preservatives are able to arrest processes such as decomposition, fermentation, and contamination by microbes. Sulfites are among the commonly used preservatives used in food to arrest bacterial contamination. Furthermore, regulatory agencies in countries such as the U.S. and Canada regard sulfites as generally safe to humans at concentrations of below 5000 ppm (parts per million) (Irwin et al., 2017). However, the approval of sulfites as food additives does not mean that they are harmless. It is worth noting that despite the widespread use of sulfites in processed fish, wine, meats, and other commonly consumed foods, limited studies exist that focus on the potential health impacts of these additives. Furthermore, the existing generally acceptable limit of sulfites in foods seem to be extremely high considering that people consume a lot of foods, wines, and other drinks that contain sulfites. Based on the need to clarify the health impacts of preservatives, the study described in this paper aimed at evaluating how sodium sulfite (a commonly used preservative) affects the good bacteria in the gut. Specifically, the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of sodium sulfite on four species of the gut microbiota were investigated with a view to establish the risk of exposure to various diseases. The four bacteria species comprised of Streptococcus thermophilus and three Lactobacillus species: salivarius, reuteri, and rhamnosus. The hypothesis tested was; Sodium sulfite is a harmful preservative for humans because it destroys beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.