Pharmaceuticals

Preservatives have many uses in the pharmaceutical industry so here are some of them.

Preservatives in Medicine and Pharmaceuticals:

Preservatives are used commonly in medicines such as acetaminophen, insulin and cough syrup to help prevent microbial contamination. Simply, preservatives help prevent the growth of microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi, which may cause disease or infection.

Safety of Preservatives in Medicine and Pharmaceuticals:

Preservatives in medicines and drugs are generally considered to be “inactive ingredients” by FDA. Inactive ingredients (such as dyes, preservatives, and flavoring agents) are parts of a drug or medicine that do not affect the therapeutic action of the active ingredients. FDA’s Inactive Ingredient Database provides information on inactive ingredients present in FDA-approved drug products.

FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies regularly monitor and conduct research on vaccine safety.

Q: What are the uses of food preservatives and what do food preservatives do?

Preservatives are added to food to fight spoilage caused by bacteria, molds, fungus, and yeast. Preservatives also help keep food fresh for longer periods of time.

What are preservatives made of?

Preservatives can be made of “natural” chemicals such as salt or alcohol. They can also be man-made, or synthetic chemicals. “Natural” or “organic” chemicals are not necessarily healthier than synthetic or man-made chemicals. In fact, artificial preservatives such as sodium nitrate, sodium benzoate and propionate have long been used in food preparation because they are effective in small amounts.