Q. Describe the use of Sorbates acid in Microorganisms?
Sorbic acid is an unsaturated carboxylic acid whose salts as sodium, calcium or potassium are used in foods upto 0.2%. As in the case of benzoates, the salts of sorbic acid are fungal inhibitors and are effective below pH 6.0 and comparatively act better between pH 4.0 to 6.0. Sorbic acid is widely used in bakery products, fruit juices, jams, pickles and especially cheese and cheese products. It is also applied to the bread wrapper, which eliminates the mouldy appearance in bread.