Sodium lactate

Sodium lactate is a compound with formula NaC₃H₅O₃. It is the sodium

Sodium

Sodium is a metallic element with a symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals within "group 1"...

 salt of lactic acid

Lactic acid

Lactic acid , also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C₃H₆O₃...

 and has a mild saline taste. It is produced by neutralizing lactic acid, which is produced by fermentation of a sugar source. As a food additive, it has the E number

E number

E numbers are number codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union. The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee. Only a subset of the INS additives are approved for use in...

 E325. Sodium lactate is naturally a liquid product, but is also available in powder form.

Sodium lactate is a compound with formula NaC₃H₅O₃. It is the sodium

Sodium

Sodium is a metallic element with a symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals within "group 1"...

 salt of lactic acid

Lactic acid

Lactic acid , also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C₃H₆O₃...

 and has a mild saline taste. It is produced by neutralizing lactic acid, which is produced by fermentation of a sugar source. As a food additive, it has the E number

E number

E numbers are number codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union. The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee. Only a subset of the INS additives are approved for use in...

 E325. Sodium lactate is naturally a liquid product, but is also available in powder form.

Sodium lactate is commonly used in meat and poultry products to extend shelf life and increase food safety as it has a broad antimicrobial

Antimicrobial

An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans, as well as destroying viruses. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes or prevent the growth of microbes...

 action and is effective at inhibiting most spoilage and pathogenic bacteria.

It may be used in shampoo

Shampoo

Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...

products and other similar items such as liquid soaps.