sorbate

[sawr-beyt, -bit]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a sorbed sorb substance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sorbate¹

First recorded in 1925–30; sorb ² + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Common additives like sugar, salt, vinegar and alcohol have been used as preservatives for centuries, but modern-day food labels now reveal more unfamiliar ingredients such as sodium benzoate, calcium propionate, and potassium sorbate.

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At issue is the labeling of canisters of grated Parmesan cheese that also contain cellulose to prevent caking or potassium sorbate to prevent mold.

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But they also contain potassium sorbate, a preservative that prolongs shelf life and prohibits the growth of many molds and yeasts.

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Workers combine it in an industrial mixer with brown sugar syrup, water, potassium sorbate and guar gum, to produce a damp, caramel-colored powder.

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What shouldn’t be celebrated, he said, is packaged hummus filled with preservatives like potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate or citric acid.

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