Chemical food preservatives are also being used for quite some time now. They seem to be the best and the most effective for a longer shelf life and are generally full proof for the preservation purpose. Examples of chemical food preservatives are: ● Benzoates (such as sodium benzoate, benzoic acid) ● Nitrites (such as sodium nitrite) ● Sulphites (such as sulphur dioxide) ● Sorbates (such as sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate) Antioxidants are also the chemical food preservatives that act as free radical scavengers. In this category of preservatives in food comes the vitamin C, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), bacterial growth inhibitors like sodium nitrite, sulphur dioxide and benzoic acid.