Disodium EDTA and Shampoo Shelf Life

Hello,

Regarding your question about using Disodium EDTA in kaffir lime shampoo and the shampoo's shelf life:

Please allow me to clarify as follows:

1. Disodium EDTA is not a preservative: As the staff member informed you, Disodium EDTA is a Chelating Agent. It helps bind with ions in water, such as minerals, to help improve formula stability, prevent discoloration, or help other ingredients work better. However, it does not have the property of killing microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, yeast) that cause spoilage in food or products.
2. Preservatives are needed to extend shampoo shelf life: If you want your shampoo to last longer and not spoil due to microorganisms, you need to add a preservative. According to your purchase history, you have previously ordered Thyme Care™ (Product ID 1194) and NaturePreserve™ (Gluconolactone) (Product ID 536). Both of these are preservatives that can be used in shampoo formulas to control microbial growth.
3. How to add preservatives: Generally, preservatives are added in the final steps of production or when the formula has cooled down to ensure maximum effectiveness and prevent degradation from heat. However, you should check the recommended information and usage instructions for the specific preservative you choose (such as Thyme Care™ or NaturePreserve™) on the product detail page again.

4. Shampoo Shelf Life: Using natural raw materials directly, such as boiled kaffir lime pulp, often carries a high risk of having a large initial microbial load, making microbial control in the formula difficult even after adding a preservative. The product's shelf life depends on several factors, including:

   • The type and amount of preservative used.
   • Cleanliness during the production and packaging process.
   • Other ingredients in the formula.
   • The packaging used.
   • Storage conditions.
   • The initial microbial load in the natural raw materials.

   Therefore, it is not possible to specify an exact shelf life for the shampoo. Stability testing and microbial challenge testing are the best ways to ensure the quality and safety of the product before use or sale.

In summary, Disodium EDTA is not a preservative and does not help extend shampoo shelf life in terms of preventing microbial growth. However, the preservatives you have, Thyme Care™ and NaturePreserve™ (Gluconolactone), can be used. Nevertheless, using natural ingredients makes control difficult, so testing is recommended for assurance of quality.

Thank you,
MySkinRecipes Team