Schär – preservative-free by choice

Preservatives keep food fresh for longer while also improving its appearance and flavour.  At Schär, we firmly believe that synthetic preservatives have no place in our food. That’s why we consistently refrain from using them — especially in bread, one of the most essential staple foods. This decision is not a trend but an integral part of our quality commitment.

For Schär, the health of our consumers is very important. That’s why we avoid the use of synthetic preservatives and instead opt for alternative, more natural preservation methods, such as reducing the amount of free oxygen in our product packaging. This allows us to offer the highest quality products from field to table, meeting the expectations of our customers.

Bread is one of Europe’s most important foods, with a per‑capita consumption of 50–100 kilograms per year. And we know: What we eat every day has a major impact on our health. That’s why in our bakery range we especially avoid the use of preservatives, and as such, none of our breads contains added synthetic preservatives.

Preservatives must be declared, so it is important to read the list of ingredients carefully. There are about 34 different preservative agents, which can be identified either by name or by the letter E followed by a numerical code. In the case of bread, the law permits the use of propanoic acid and sorbic acid. As a rule, a 500 g loaf may contain up to 1 g of preservatives. If you eat three to four slices of bread, or the equivalent of 100 grams per day, you would ingest about 0.2 g of preservatives just from this food.

We rely on modern, safe alternatives to maintain freshness: for example, by adjusting the atmosphere inside the packaging using protective gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂). This displaces oxygen, inhibits the growth of microorganisms, and naturally extends the shelf life of bread and baked goods. Traditional freezing also remains an effective way to preserve freshness — completely without artificial additives.

At Schär, we stand for authenticity, quality, and responsibility. Avoiding artificial flavours, colourings, and preservatives is not a compromise for us but a clear commitment to the well‑being of our consumers. Because good bread needs no chemistry — just the best ingredients, modern technology, and a genuine promise of quality.