Preservative Recommendation for Tamarind Scrub

Thank you for sharing your tamarind scrub formula and the issue with mold growth. The staff's advice is crucial: incorporating natural ingredients like tamarind pulp, honey, and turmeric powder significantly increases the risk of microbial contamination. Preservatives are most effective at preventing growth in a clean product, not overcoming heavy contamination from raw materials. Therefore, ensuring your natural ingredients are properly sterilized or sourced to have a very low microbial count is the essential first step.

For a formula containing water-based natural ingredients, a broad-spectrum preservative is necessary to protect against bacteria, yeast, and mold. Based on your formula and the need to prevent mold, here are a few suitable options:

• NaturePreserve™ LB2: This is a broad-spectrum preservative effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold, particularly strong at lower pH values (2.0-6.5), which is likely suitable for a tamarind scrub. It is also of natural origin. Use at a rate of 0.5-1.0%. Add it to the water phase and avoid heating above 50°C.
• Mild Preserved™ COS: This is another excellent broad-spectrum preservative effective against bacteria, yeast, and mold. It works in a wide pH range (2-8) and is odorless. Use at a rate of 0.75-1.5%. Add it at any stage, ensuring the temperature is below 45°C.
• Global Guard™ 221: This is also a broad-spectrum, natural preservative effective in the pH range of 2-7. Use at a rate of 0.5-1.1%. Add at any stage, ensuring the temperature is below 45°C.

Remember to add the chosen preservative at the recommended usage rate (around 1-1.25% as you allocated in your formula, adjusting based on the specific preservative's recommended range).

Important Considerations:

• Ingredient Sterilization: As the staff mentioned, the most critical step is to ensure your natural ingredients, especially the tamarind pulp, are free from microbial contamination before mixing. This might involve heat treatment or sourcing pre-sterilized ingredients.
• Challenge Test: To be certain your chosen preservative and formula are adequately protected, it is highly recommended to perform a challenge test. This test evaluates the effectiveness of the preservative system against various microorganisms over time.

By combining proper ingredient handling with a suitable broad-spectrum preservative, you can significantly improve the stability and shelf life of your tamarind scrub and prevent mold growth.