Why does processed meat contain preservatives, while canned fish needs not?
I've read that canned salmon typically does not contain any preservatives.
On the other hand processed meat (such as ham) contains them.
Why are preservatives needed in some cases but not others?
Best Answer
These are two different ways to preserve food.
The canned salmon was boiled and then sealed into a can while it was still boiling sealed into a can and boiled under a specified combination of time and temperature that has been empirically proven to kill enough bacteria. All the bacteria in the can are dead, and no more can get in, so it's sterile and won't rot until it's opened.
The ham is preserved differently: instead of being sterile, it has enough preservatives that whatever bacteria get in can't grow, or at least grow very slowly.
The difference is between canning and curing, not between fish and meat. It's also possible to can meat (in which case it doesn't need preservatives) and cure fish (for example, smoked salmon).
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Is canned fish considered a processed meat?
A processed meat, according to the panel, has been modified from its natural state, either \u201cthrough salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation.\u201d This includes sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, beef jerky, canned meat, meat sauces, lunch meats and bacon.What preservatives are used in canned fish?
The food regulator allows the use of only potassium bisulphate, potassium sulphite, sodium metabisulphate, sodium sulphite, all are referred as sulphur dioxide, to be used as preservatives on selected fish products like frozen shrimps, lobster and fish fillets, salted fish, frozen finfish, canned finfish, canned ...Is canned fish preserved?
Canned or tinned fish are food fish which have been processed, sealed in an airtight container such as a sealed tin can, and subjected to heat. Canning is a method of preserving food, and provides a typical shelf life ranging from one to five years.Does fresh fish have preservatives?
Fish is a highly perishable commodity. If it isn't maintained at the proper temperature of 5 degree Celsius, it gets spoilt. To avoid that and increase its shelf life, the sellers now use chemicals such as formalin and ammonia. If the point of sale is far from the place of catch, formalin is used as a preservative.How Does Canned Food Last So Long? | Earth Lab
More answers regarding why does processed meat contain preservatives, while canned fish needs not?
Answer 2
Canned salmon is sterilized. Sterilization uses heat to render a product safe. Cured hams are preserved with salt, and nitrites in some cases. Some hams are also cooked. Furthermore, some fish is salted and dried for curing purposes. Salt and drying greatly reduce water activity to render a product safe. Two different processes, both create a safe product.
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