The food and bakery industry was nonexistent in the early 1800s since 95% of families lived in rural areas and made these items from scratch. The Industrial Revolution moved 40% of the United States’ population to cities, and the method of feeding America changed drastically. Mass production of food involved a new line of chemical preservatives, which increased production and shelf life – and profits for manufacturers. The Food and Drug Act of 1906 focused on the role of the government in the chemical composition of the item consumed by Americans. World Wars I and II enticed Americans to eat fresh foods to give soldiers the preserved foods they needed. When the soldiers arrived home, the food industry ran dry on its market for preserved food, so it touted preserved foods as what was prepared and served by the most affluent households.The food & reagent product supplier Bell Chem stocks many preservatives for the food and bakery industry to extend shelf life and make foods safer to eat.

With the first Dietary Guidelines for Americans created by the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services in 1980, foods and baked goods began adding nutrients to their products to meet the health conscious needs of the general public and the more stringent guidelines prompted by the Dietary Guidelines.

• Preservatives, such as citric acid, malic acid, and potassium benzoate keep foods fresh longer, which extends shelf life.

• Adding nutrients meets the healthy guidelines by the USDA. Bell Chem supplies its customers with whey, tartaric acid, and dipotassium phosphate to meet that need.

• Food ingredients, such as double acting baking powder, sugar, whey, sodium bicarbonate #1, and cornstarch are stocked in bulk at Bell Chem.

Today, the food and bakery industry is marketing whole foods and products with fewer or more natural ingredients. The chemical basis for the preservatives and additives have changed along with this push, and Bell Chem has met the challenge with the latest in recommendations and customer needs. Contact Bell Chem at 407-339-2355 (BELL) to learn about their vast array of supplements the food & reagent product supplier of Central Florida stocks for the food and bakery industry as well as its line of personal care, sanitation, and water treatment chemicals.