Question

What is the basis of long life of pickels and jams ?

Answer 1

Preservatives help to maintain the existing condition of pickles and jams. To delay the spoiling of foodstuffs by micro organisms, anti microbial substances are used which inhibit, delay or prevent the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds. Sorbic acid is used to preserve jam. Benzoic acid and its calcium, sodium or potassium salts are used to preserve pickles and low sugar jams.
         To ensure that preservatives really help in making the foodstuffs safer, their use is subject to pre market safety assessment and authorisation procedure. So while buying pickles and jams we should check whether approved preservatives have been used.

Answer 2

that are methods of preservation.we add preservatives on them like sugar.salt, sodium benzoate and potassium metabisulfite etc to delay or prevent the growth of harmful microbes .