Write a short note on Antioxidants.

Explanation

(i) Antioxidants are substances which retard the oxidative deteriorations of food.
(ii) Food containing fats and oils is easily oxidised and turn rancid.
(iii) To prevent the oxidation of the fats and oils, chemical BHT (butylhydroxy toluene), BHA (Butylated hydroxy anisole) are added as food additives.
(iv) They are generally called antioxidants these materials readly undergo oxidation by reacting with free radicals generated by the oxidation of oils, thereby stop the chain reaction of oxidation of food.