What is natamycin?
It’s a natural antifungal agent produced during fermentation that’s commonly found in soil. The food industry commonly uses natamycin to curb fungal outgrowth in dairy products, meats and other foods. Using natamycin to slow mold growth is preferable over chemical preservatives. It’s also possible to use natamycin to treat fungal infections on the body by using it as a cream.
Natamycin (Pimaricin) is a polyene macrolide antibiotic produced by submerged aerobic fermentation of Streptomyces natalensis and related species,also known as Natamycine, Natamycina, Натамицин(пимарицин), Pimaricine, Pimaricina. Fermentation is conducted for several days, and the antibiotic is isolated either by broth extraction or by extraction of the mycelium.it is an antifungal which can be used as antibiotic to treat most fungus infections. Natamycin is an natural antimicrobial food additive used to protect food from mold and yeast growth. Its application is reliable and safe to human body. Natamycin has been globally used in a variety of foods and beverages, eg. Cheese , Baked food , Meat , Jam, Jelly, Marinated food, Fish, Chicken, Surface treatment for semi-dried, cured meat products , Drinks , Juice , Wines , Yogurts , man-made butter, Miscellaneous.. Natamycin is deemed to be a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) substance in USA , and is assigned to be the number E-235-natur
How is natamycin used? Natamycin is currently approved by the FDA for use on the surface of cuts and slices of cheese where the standards for such cheese provides for the use of safe and suitable mold inhibiting ingredients. Natamycin may be applied to cheese by dipping or by spraying a liquid solution that contains 200 to 300 parts per million (ppm) of the additive. What are the health effects of natamycin? Animal studies on rabbits, dogs, and cows indicate that natamycin has no toxic effects even at high levels of ingestion. In addition, natamycin was found to have no reproductive or mutagenic qualities. Animal studies also show that natamycin is fat and water insoluble, allowing an estimated 90% to be excreted through normal gastrointestinal functions. Natamycin is approved for use by the FDA and has been widely used in Europe for over 35 years. What happens if natamycin is not used? The use of natamycin on cheese allows manufacturers to produce cheese that is acceptable to the aest
Natamycin is a food grade mold inhibitor that is manufactured from natural sources. It is naturally derived from fermented milk and is organic in nature. Natamycin has been used in the food industry for more than 20 years. There are many other foods that include mold inhibitors (for example, bread). Natamycin is not soluble in water or fat and consequently passes through the intestines without getting absorbed. It is not an antibiotic. It will not destroy any bacteria; it only prevents growth of yeast and mold. Our research with the use of natamycin shows that we can reduce the chance of cheese molding before the package is opened and extend the freshness of the cheese after opening the package.
