THE SPICE CABINET'S SECRET WEAPON
A compound in mustard seeds is being engineered into a powerful natural food preservative that could disrupt the food industry and change how we keep food fresh
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Grocery Cpg
Key points
- Sinapic acid, a compound found in mustard seeds, is the basis for new synthetic antifungal agents.
- Specific synthetic sinapates were found to be highly effective at killing common food spoilage fungi like Candida, in some cases at very low concentrations.
- These compounds work by disrupting the fungal cell membrane, a mechanism that could lead to a new class of natural food preservatives.
- The development of plant-derived preservatives could reduce food waste, satisfy consumer demand for "clean labels," and decrease reliance on the energy-intensive cold chain.
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Sources and methodology
Reported from primary records. Open any source to verify a claim.
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