Question

Choose three preserved foods prepared at your home and another three from the market. Identify the method of food preservation in each and the preservative used, if any. Classify the preservative as natural or chemical.

Answer 1

Food	Source	Preservation method	Preservative, if used	Classification
Lemon pickle	Home	Salt, oil and acidity; clean storage	Salt, oil and lemon acidity	Natural/food ingredients
Guava jam	Home	Heating and high sugar concentration	Sugar	Natural/food ingredient
Dried chillies	Home	Sun- or air-drying	None added	Not applicable
Packaged tomato ketchup	Market	Heat processing and sealed packaging	Sodium benzoate may be listed; check label	Chemical preservative
Packaged fruit squash	Market	Sugar and acidity; sealed packaging	KMS or sodium benzoate may be listed; check label	Chemical preservative
Frozen peas	Market	Freezing	Usually none added; check label	Not applicable

• Preservatives and processing differ among products; use the ingredients label rather than assuming a particular additive is present.