What are the functions of gastric juice?

Right then. Gastric juice has a few crucial jobs in the stomach. Its strong hydrochloric acid sterilises your food, killing off most bacteria. This acid also creates the perfect environment for an enzyme called pepsin to get to work. Pepsin’s main task is to begin the digestion of proteins from your meal. The juice also contains mucus, which is vital for protecting the stomach lining from being damaged by its own powerful acid.