Natural Benzoic Acid and Dairy Products: A Review

천연유래 안식향산과 유제품: 총설

Benzoic acid is widely used in the food industry as a preservative in acidic foods, owing to its antimicrobial activity against various bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. Benzoic acid occurs naturally in different foods such as fruits, vegetables, spices, and nuts as well as in milk and dairy products. Lactic acid bacteria convert hippuric acid, which is naturally present in milk, to benzoic acid; therefore, the latter could also be considered as a natural component of milk and milk products. Benzoic acid is also produced during the ripening of cheese by the propionic acid fermentation process that follows lactic acid fermentation. This paper, we provide basic information regarding the systematic control of natural benzoic acid levels in raw materials, processing intermediates, and final products of animal origin.