Inhibition of Growth and Uptake Processes in Bacteria by Some Chemical Food Preservatives

The effect on growth and uptake processes of some common chemical food preservatives benzoate, sorbate, propionate and alkyl esters of p -hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens)] has been studied in strains of Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For parabens. the inhibitory action on growth and amino acid uptake in whole cells and bacterial membrane vesicles followed similar dose-response curves. Growth inhibition caused by parabens appears to be a consequence of transport inhibition. For benzoate, sorbate and propionate, uptake inhibition seems inadequate to explain growth inhibition.