In the food industry various additives have always been used, but until 1953, manufacturers honestly informed buyers about all the ingredients of the product. But after the European Commission on Additives proposed a letter designation system using the E code, the composition of processed foods, sausages, sweets and much more in our diet has become something of a secret.
Hence the fear of buyers: is there something dangerous to health hidden under the next designation with the letter E? Let's try to find the truth and find out which food additives should be excluded from the family menu.
Food additives themselves do not have any effect on the human body.
harmful influence, scientists say. However, they warn that
ingredients labeled E react with other substances
in the body can have unpredictable effects on our health.
Dangerous food additives for children
The child's body is less protected from harmful external influences. Therefore, it is important for parents to carefully monitor the quality of the products that make up their children’s menu. And if the child already eats adult food, you need to know that some of the additives with the E index are not recommended in baby food.
E330 - lemon acid, which is part of many people's favorite carbonated drinks, when consumed, provokes the release of gastric juice and can lead to the development of gastritis.
E951 - aspartame, an artificial sugar substitute, is used in the production of many sweets. However, there is an assumption that this dietary supplement contributes to the development of a genetic mutation leading to a rare disease - phenylketonuria.
E216 and E217 - propyl ether and sodium salt. These preservatives are found in filled chocolate and candies and, if consumed in excess, can cause food poisoning.
E102 - tartrazine. A dye used in the manufacture of confectionery, sweets and ice cream. However, tartrazine can cause food allergies.
E400-499 - thickeners, stabilizers to increase the viscosity of food products. They are used to make yoghurts. Possible consequences of abuse of this dietary supplement may include diseases of the digestive tract.
Dangerous food additives for women
Pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised to adhere to the diet. However, even foods that are allowed while expecting or breastfeeding should be passed through a “sieve” of nutritional supplements. The fact is that some of them can cause harm like women's health, and for children. Let's give examples.
E957 - thaumatin. Officially, its use in the food industry is prohibited, but the risk of purchasing counterfeit products still exists. Therefore, it is worth remembering: E-957 disrupts hormonal balance.
E128 is a red dye Red 2G with a carcinogenic effect, used in the production of sausages. Can lead to abnormal development of the fetus during pregnancy and congenital pathologies.
E250 - sodium nitrite - dye, seasoning and preservative, used for making sausages. It is noteworthy that E250 is approved for use in Russia, but prohibited in the European Union. Possible consequences of the impact of this dietary supplement on the female body are the development of fetal hypoxia during pregnancy, a decrease in the content of vitamins in the body, and increased excitability nervous system.
Dangerous Dietary Supplements for Men
There is little information about the harmful effects of food additives on the male body. Of course, representatives of the stronger half of humanity, like children and women, are not immune from the development of allergic reactions, cancer due to exposure to ingredients with the E index, as well as negative influence of these substances on the systems and functions of the body.
There is one nutritional supplement that men need to know by sight. It is known that E520, or aluminum sulfate, used as a starch modifier, can negatively affect the male reproductive system if abused.
How to protect yourself from the harmful effects of food additives
It is not easy to keep your family healthy when food products contain more artificial additives than natural ingredients. What should I do? Perhaps awareness of the consequences of overusing food additives will lead many to think about healthy eating.
And to do this, you should open your refrigerator, evaluate the ratio of sausages, sausages, smoked meats and canned goods in it with the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables and home-made food. If the comparison is in favor of “chemistry,” then it’s time to start the new day by cleaning out the refrigerator and then going to the store for the right food.
And although it is almost impossible to avoid products with certain E on the label, try to keep their amount in your daily diet small.
When we come to the store, we always choose products that are high-quality, beautiful, and appetizing in appearance. No one will buy, for example, gray sausage or rancid butter. After all, every buyer wants products to be fresh, aromatic and pleasant to the taste. And nutritional supplements contribute a lot to this.
So why are they needed?
They can improve the appearance, aroma and taste of the product (aromatics, flavor enhancers, dyes).
Slow down product spoilage (preservatives, antioxidants).
Increase the nutritional value of the product (vitamins, minerals, sweeteners).
Necessary in the process industrial production(emulsifiers, stabilizers).
I would like to talk about the most common food additives in details.
So, preservatives. To prevent food from spoiling and remain fresh for a long time, preservatives are added to them. After all, a spoiled product is not only inedible, but also dangerous to health. Preservatives protect us from food poisoning, prevent the growth of mold fungi and microorganisms, and stop the release of poisons by microorganisms, for example, aflatoxin.
Benzoic acid and its salts (benzoates) are a preservative found in almost all canned foods in plastic packaging, for example, herring, and drinks. It is dangerous for allergy sufferers who react sensitively to salicylic acid, and for patients with bronchial asthma.
Sorbic acid. It is most often seen in canned foods, as well as in cakes and pastries. It is considered the most harmless and especially effective preservative.
Sodium nitrite. It is both a color enhancer and a preservative at the same time. It is added to smoked meats and sausages. Thanks to sodium nitrite, the natural color of the sausage is preserved much longer. By the way, this salt prevents the growth of botulism spores in canned sausages. It was during sausage poisoning that this disease (botulus-sausage) was first described. Sodium nitrite is very toxic. Its quantity is strictly standardized by GOSTs. And this concentration is very small, does not exceed 0.005%. I’ll tell you from my own experience: I’ve never seen sodium nitrite exceed the standard.
One option not to add preservatives to products is vacuum packaging, and the salt itself (sodium chloride) is nothing more than a preservative. The same situation applies to vinegar. In one situation it is a seasoning, and in another it is a preservative. Don't you put vinegar in pickling? Although I prefer natural apple.
Antioxidants. Their action is based on the fact that they bind air oxygen, preventing oxidation (rancidity of fats). More often they are added to vegetable and butter, chips, raw smoked sausage. These include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid, tocopherols (vitamin E), lactic acid, lecithin. They are natural and harmless, which cannot be said about sulfite. It is added to wine and dried fruits, but for some reason not a word is written about its presence.
Thiabendazole, diphenyl, orthophenol. They cover bananas and citrus fruits with a thin layer. A thin waxy coating saves the fruit from spoilage. So wash your fruits thoroughly before eating.
Vitamins and minerals. Added to baby food, juices, and dairy products. They help make products balanced and healthy.
Emulsifiers and stabilizers. Without them, we wouldn't eat ice cream or mayonnaise. The products would simply disintegrate into their component parts. For example, lecithin is a good natural emulsifier. There is a lot of it in egg yolk. This is why homemade mayonnaise does not separate, and all the cholesterol contained in eggs is not completely absorbed by the body.
Modified starch, pectins, agar-agar, gelatin. Refers to thickeners. They are a good ballast substance and are practically not digested by the body. I would like to mention agar-agar. Get it from red and brown algae. Has the ability to remove toxins from the body. So jelly and marmalade based on agar-agar are very useful (if, of course, they also contain natural dyes).
Glycerin and sorbitol are moisture regulators. They absorb moisture from the air well, that's why bakery products They don't go stale for that long.
I have listed the most common nutritional supplements, although there are many more. As you can see, there are some useful and some not so useful. According to hygienic requirements, the use of food additives is permitted only if they do not threaten human health even with prolonged use. Their content in products is strictly controlled at all stages of production.
In our age of progress and universal employment, life itself pushes us to the fact that more and more often we buy ready-made factory-produced dishes and cook food from fresh ingredients less and less. So we either need to come to terms with the presence of food additives, or abandon all industrially produced products and switch to home cooking. The choice is yours.
1. Chocolate is an excellent product against high blood pressure. It is enough to eat two sweets to bring your blood pressure back to normal.
2. Chocolate lifts your mood and creates a feeling of love thanks to the phenamine component.
3. White and milk chocolate contain more unhealthy fat and calories, while dark bitter chocolate with a high cocoa content (from 70%) is considered the healthiest.
4. A chocolate bar per month can extend your life by a whole year. But excessive consumption of the product will lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
5. One of the most unusual species meat - mouse. It was eaten in China and also in Ancient Greece.
6. Rice ranks first among consumed foods, as it serves as the main ingredient in the menu of most Asian countries, known for their abundance. There are more than 15,000 varieties of rice, which we are accustomed to dividing into black, white and brown.
7. Refined sugar can be called one of the most harmful products, since it contains absolutely nothing except carbohydrates and extra calories.
8. Zucchini and pumpkin seeds acquire greater benefits and nutritional value over time. Thus, fresh pumpkin seeds may have 3-4 times fewer calories than those that have been stored for several months.
9. Only 5% of mined salt is used as seasoning. The rest is spent on conservation and even industrial purposes - leather tanning, glass production, road construction.
10. Natural soup chicken meat for a long time considered an aphrodisiac.
11. Rennet is a natural substance necessary for the production of many types of cheese. It is obtained from the fourth ventricle of small calves.
12. Most unusual snacks bordering on disgust - fried termites from South Africa, ants, bees and a bull's scrotum covered in chocolate - in America.
13. Potatoes and corn were first cultivated in mountainous regions called the Andes.
14. One kilogram of potatoes costs almost 200 times less than 1 kilogram of chips obtained from them.
15. With the advent of the cartoon character Popeye, interest in spinach has greatly increased in America. It was this product in the cartoon that was positioned as a valuable source of energy and vitamins.
16. It has been proven that fresh apples help you get up in the morning better than coffee.
17. Salt and beans in ancient times served as money. Some scammers even tried to fake the latter. But in Europe in the Middle Ages, often the main in cash performed... Cows!
18. During the time of Ivan the Terrible, there were their own illegal transportations. Thus, the ambassadors of the Russian Tsar transported valuables from Muslim countries, wrapping them in pork tenderloin. Naturally, Muslims disdained to approach this meat.
19. In the era Ancient Rome, at one point in history, the authorities came to the conclusion that it was time to fight luxury. Thus, fattening chickens was prohibited. But they forgot to prohibit feeding roosters...
20. In the Middle Ages, the recipe for ice cream was considered one of the most secret. In Europe, only kings could eat it, and the most courageous spies often went for secret knowledge, trying to discover the technology for preparing a delicious dessert.
21. In Ancient Greece, figs were of particular value. It could not be taken out of the country, and citizens who disobeyed could be executed for smuggling.
22. Muslims have long had a controversial relationship with coffee due to its stimulant properties. So, in the Middle Ages it was equated with wine, and it was almost banned.
23. In 1638, the Russian ambassador to China received several bags of strange dry leaves as a gift. The ambassador was very upset by this and a war almost broke out. But someone thought of brewing these fragrant leaves, and since then we can enjoy the aroma of tea every day.
24. In Honolulu, cooks practice a very unconventional method of beating octopus meat: they wash them in washing machines.
25. Any sea and river fish is one of the most healthy products. It supplies the body with light protein, improves memory and skin condition, and also fights bad cholesterol.
26. Fresh or properly frozen strawberries can improve your mood and give you energy. After all, it contains many vitamins that are responsible for the tone of our body!
27. Potatoes, contrary to the negative opinions of many nutritionists, can be beneficial for the body, but only when boiled and baked. It removes excess fluid and helps get rid of cellulite.
28. Although bananas “came” to Europe from Africa, they are often supplied from India; more than half of all imports come from this country.
29. Apricot, avocado and raspberry are at the top of the list of the healthiest foods on the planet. Moreover, apricots and raspberries are able to retain all their benefits not only in fresh form.
30. Olivier salad was invented in Russia. But a Frenchman came up with the recipe! The salad differed from the modern one in a more refined set of products, including: veal tongue, caviar, pickles and crayfish.
31. In Africa, lemon is a panacea for many diseases. It is believed that the juice of 1 slice of lemon during meals will prevent overeating and help digestion. That's why drinking water with lemon juice before meals is so beneficial!
32. Breakfast should not be easy. It is at this time that preference should be given to the most satisfying and high-calorie dishes.
33. Regular consumption of vegetables, fruits and cereals helps cleanse the blood. However, in harsh conditions, the body simply cannot survive without heavy meat protein.
34. Real borscht was prepared from a plant that today is considered a weed - hogweed.
35. Freshly squeezed juices are stored for only 3-4 hours. Glass and metal containers are not suitable for them.
36. Natural Apple vinegar very good for the skin. It is enough to dilute 1 tsp. in a glass of water and drink one hour before meals.
37. Guava is the record holder among vegetables and fruits for vitamin C content.
38. High-quality village cottage cheese contains a minimum of fat with a maximum amount of protein and calcium, which is extremely beneficial for the heart.
39. Cold Scandinavian countries are not at all distinguished by their great love for hot dishes. It is supposed to be eaten there only in the afternoon and only once. The main portion of the diet is cold snacks and a variety of sandwiches.
40. Mangoes and pistachios are the closest “relatives”. They belong to the same family, although there are few similarities between them.
41. All products that are yellow in color serve as natural antidepressants, break down fats and speed up metabolic processes.
42. Blue foods can eliminate insomnia and calm the nerves. They contain a lot of vitamin C. This also includes purple and maroon foods.
43. Green fruits and vegetables help reduce stomach acidity, normalize blood pressure, have a powerful antiseptic effect and strengthen the immune system.
44. Ginger and cinnamon have a powerful effect on the body. You can buy dried spices and add a pinch to tea or coffee: weight loss, increased performance and good mood are guaranteed!
45. Feijoa can compete with various seafood in terms of iodine content.
46. Apples – true friend people leading a “table” lifestyle. They contain a lot of useful substances and all this for little money and year-round availability. Apples improve the condition of the nervous system and have a general strengthening effect.
47. Olives and olives are the same thing. Only the first ones have to hang on trees for a long time, but for industrial purposes this is not profitable. Therefore, green olives are often dyed black and sold as olives.
48. Corn helps the body process fatty foods and alcohol. This is one of the rare products that, when canned, retains all its properties.
49. Celery contains very few calories. Moreover, if you eat it fresh, you will spend several times more calories on the chewing process.
50. Almost half of all almond production comes from the production of chocolate products.
51. Cooking grapes and eggs in the microwave can cause an explosion.
52. In 1991, carrots were officially recognized as a fruit in Europe.
53. And in 2001, the same fate befell tomatoes.
54. Mozzarella, tomato sauce and parsley - traditional ingredients of real Italian pizza, imitating the colors of the national flag.
55. Gasoline ranks first in global commodity turnover. And in second place is coffee.
56. The smell of fried bacon can greatly increase your appetite. This is used by various catering establishments.
57. In most restaurants, salmon dishes are prepared from cheap pink salmon or coho salmon, and are presented as expensive salmon or trout.
58. Fat-burning fruits that really effectively fight excess “stock”: kiwi, pineapples, grapefruits.
59. The rate of vegetable consumption per person per year is about 125 kg.
60. Wine was invented by the ancient Greeks more than 3 thousand years ago.
61. In 2006, a limited batch of 36 bottles of beer was brewed from barley sprouts grown in zero gravity. Each costs more than $300.
62. Pomegranate juice is the healthiest non-alcoholic drink.
63. The first bottle of carbonated drink was made from bubbles of fermenting beer in 1772.
64. In Peru, frog tincture is considered a drink of vigor. They drink it almost as often as the Chinese drink tea.
65. Traditional kvass is rarely to the taste of foreigners. Almost everyone refers to it as “a sour, cloudy liquid.”
66. Good dry red wine in an amount of 0.1 liter is good for the heart and can fight cancer.
67. Milk is widely used in the production of adhesives, paints and even plastics.
68. Ice cream is a kind of symbol of rockers. Often original recipes are invented in memory of various performers and groups, for example, Baskin Robins released a product in honor of the Beatles.
69. Most ice cream is eaten on the east coast of the United States.
70. The world eats several times more margarine than butter.
71. Baskin Robins released ketchup-flavored ice cream.
72. Cheese, according to the majority of the world's population, is the most delicious dish.
73. The first candies were invented by the Egyptians more than 3 thousand years ago. Dates and honey were used for this. A little later, the Romans added nuts and flour to them.
74. In the Middle Ages, chocolate in Europe was considered a witchcraft product.
75. But in Russia, until the 20th century, sweets were the privilege of wealthy nobles.
76. The only candy that has been in space is Chupa Chups. Only she passed all the safety requirements.
77. Most smoked meat products contains modified soybeans.
78. Chicken meat is considered the healthiest. But only if we're talking about about natural chicken without hormones and antibiotics.
79. Ice serves as an excellent preservative. Quick freezing of fresh berries, vegetables, fruits and meat can extend the “useful” life of products.
80. Just 12 species of plants and 5 animals provide 70% of all food.
81. Strawberries and raspberries contain in their small specific seeds a substance responsible for the formation of testosterone in the human body. It is this hormone that increases sexual desire.
82. White wine is served with fish, and red wine with any other meat. The exception is tuna, which also goes better with red wine.
83. The juiciest lemon has a thin peel.
84. Sunflower seeds help strengthen the nervous system.
85. Chili peppers, like chocolate, can improve your mood.
86. White and beige eggs are not at all different from each other. Only the hens that laid them are different.
87. Parmesan cheese in Italy serves as collateral when cheesemakers borrow money from banks. Ripe heads are placed in a special storage facility.
88. In 2003, after America's invasion of Iran and French outrage over it, Washington DC cafeterias renamed the French fries Liberty fries.
89. Cream cheese was invented in New York in 1872. Only it received the name “Philadelphia”.
90. What fell is not lost. Food does not pick up bacteria from the floor within 5 seconds, but only if the floor surface is dry.
91. Pringles chips aren't even half potato. They contain a lot of starch and corn flour, but only 42% potatoes. However, the figure is quite high for a product in this category.
92. There is an ice cream cemetery in the USA. There are tombstones with the names of those tastes that have lost their popularity.
93. Salad with asparagus on Russian shelves is nothing more than a deception. The white pods are obtained from the foam of soy milk and have little in common with asparagus.
94. It was simple vegetables - cabbage, carrots, onions and beets - that helped simple peasants in tsarist times to be healthy, while nobles often suffered from scurvy and other unpleasant diseases due to the lack of simple products in their diet.
95. “Friendship” cheese is immortalized in Moscow with a monument. You can find it at the intersection of Rustaveli and Ogorodny Proezd.
96. Vegetable oil a priori does not contain cholesterol.
97. Cunning Englishmen use coffee grounds as fuel at the Kraft Foods chocolate factory.
98. Meat, or rather the need for its proper storage, opened the age of geographical travel. The Turks asked too much for spices, which contributed to the proper preservation of meat products. This prompted sailors to look for the treasured seasonings in new lands.
99. Kopi Luwak is the most expensive type of coffee. It is made from the feces of Asian civet cats that eat coffee beans. But the fruits are not processed, but in the stomach of the animals they are saturated with useful substances.
100. Doctor's sausage appeared in 1936 and was intended to improve the health of people who suffered during the tsarist reign.
Recent Research side effects dietary supplements have taken the whole world by storm. Now everyone wants to know as much as possible about them.
Many of you like to read the contents of a product before purchasing it. And it is right. If you want to be healthy, watch what you eat. Not everyone wants the products they buy to contain excess sugar, fats and other elements undesirable for health. Everyone has probably found food additives in the list of ingredients listed. What are they needed for? What are their benefits?
What are dietary supplements?
Nutritional supplements- These are products or chemicals that are added to food to enhance taste and color, and to help it store better. Both MSG ascorbic acid and aspartame are dietary supplements. All canned foods contain substances that contribute to their long-term storage. Despite certain benefits, dietary supplements also have side effects. There are fierce debates about this all over the world. The following information will help you learn more about supplements.
Interesting facts about nutritional supplements
– Many people argue that nutritional supplements do not provide any benefit. This is far from true. As mentioned above, they prevent food from spoiling, improve their color, taste and aroma.
– In all countries there are strict rules for the production of food additives, as a result of which they are completely safe for human health, and it is impossible to be poisoned by them.
– However, long-term consumption of products containing additives can lead to some serious diseases, such as cancer or heart disease.
– Food dyes contain coal tar, which is a carcinogen that can lead to cancer, so foods with artificial colors should be avoided.
– Monosodium glutamate is included in almost all products from China, such as soy sauce and others. Although it serves to give foods a special “Chinese” taste, many people associate chest pain, nausea and cramps with its use.
– Side effects of aspartame, sorbitol, nitrites, nitrates and many other additives include abdominal pain, headaches, nausea and vomiting.
– Many baby foods also contain food additives to add color and flavor. Therefore, children who use a large number of sweets and ice cream, may suffer from hyperactivity.
– The myth that all chemical additives must be harmful is not confirmed. Products such as salt, lemon or sugar are also additives, but do not have any side effects.
– Some people may be allergic to certain substances. Moreover, after eating certain foods, they may experience a skin rash, diarrhea, headache, nausea, anxiety, etc.
– Some negative reactions to the consumption of products may not be caused by the presence of food additives in them, but by their expired expiration date. This happens rarely, but nevertheless occurs.
Most side effects are associated with long-term consumption of the same products. This does not mean that they should be banned. You just need to consume processed and packaged foods in moderation, buy fresh vegetables and fruits, cook food at home, and not visit various cafes. If you play it safe in advance, you may be able to avoid various troubles with your health in the future.
Three kilograms chemical substances. This is the amount that is swallowed per year by the average consumer of a wide variety of, sometimes absolutely familiar, products: muffins, for example, or marmalade. Dyes, emulsifiers, sealants, thickeners are now present in literally everything. Naturally, the question arises: why do manufacturers add them to food and how harmless are these substances?
Experts agreed that “food additives are the general name for natural or synthetic chemicals added to food products in order to give them certain properties (improving taste and smell, increasing nutritional value, preventing product spoilage, etc.) that are not are consumed as independent food products.”
The wording is quite clear and understandable. However, not everything in this matter is simple. Much depends on the honesty and basic decency of manufacturers, on what exactly and in what quantities they use to give products a marketable appearance.
Serial number of taste.
Nutritional supplements are not an invention of our high-tech age. Salt, soda, and spices have been known to people since time immemorial. But the real flourishing of their use began in the twentieth century - the century of food chemistry. There were high hopes for supplements. And they fully met expectations. With their help it was possible to create a large assortment appetizing, long-lasting and at the same time less labor-intensive products to produce.
Having won recognition, the “improvers” were put into production. The sausages turned soft pink, the yoghurts became freshly fruity, and the muffins were fluffy and unstale. The “youth” and attractiveness of the products is ensured by the additives, which are used as dyes, emulsifiers, sealants, thickeners, gelling agents, glazing agents, flavor and odor enhancers, preservatives...
Chewing gum and Coca Cola, which were super popular in the 20th century, got their unique taste thanks to food additives. And the most amazing thing is that 100 years ago the food additive for cola was cocaine. It got its name from the coca plant, a shrub from whose leaves cocaine is obtained.
Much has changed in the area of safety in the use of food additives since then. Once upon a time, the use of methamphetamine was considered harmless; now it is classified as a “hard drug”. Not so long ago in Russia, “Mars” chocolates contained a substance that is now included in all countries of the world in the list of prohibited food additives. It is quite possible that after several decades, some dye generously added to products will be considered harmful.
The mechanism for the appearance and use of a food additive is as follows: first, the additive is developed, then it undergoes testing from several weeks to several months, or even years. If the tests are successful, then the regulatory organization of the country where the additive was developed recommends it for widespread use.
In Europe, safety regulations require mandatory indicate the presence of a food additive on the package in the list of ingredients.
According to the accepted European classification, all additives are designated by the letter “E” (the initial letter in the word “Europe”).
For example, E152 is completely harmless activated carbon,
E1404 is starch, and E500 is soda.
The most large group food additives after the letter E contains only 3 numbers.
Classification of food additives:
E100-E182 denote dyes that enhance or restore the color of a product. They can be natural (such as beta-carotene or carminic acid dyes) or synthetic.
The main goal in this case is the desire to increase sales. Dyes have absolutely no effect on taste qualities food and the process of its absorption by the human body. Dyes are added to lemonade, Coca-Cola and similar drinks, sweets, puddings, ice cream, alcohol, margarine and cheeses.
Natural colors are produced by extraction from a range of fruits and vegetables, such as red beets, sweet peppers, oranges or spinach. Artificial dyes are synthesized chemically. Food products, containing natural dyes, are generally considered harmless to health.
Caution should be exercised with artificial colors. They can cause allergies and, under certain conditions, even cause cancer.
Codes E200-E299- preservatives that increase the shelf life of products by protecting them from microbes, fungi and bacteriophages. This group also includes chemical sterilizing additives used during the ripening of wines, as well as disinfectants.
E300-E399- antioxidants that protect foods from oxidation, for example, from rancidity of fats and discoloration of cut vegetables and fruits.
E400-E499- stabilizers, thickeners, emulsifiers, the purpose of which is to maintain the desired consistency of the product, as well as increase its viscosity.
500-E599- pH regulators and anti-caking agents.
E600-E699- flavorings and flavor enhancers
The most common and most dangerous of this group is glutamate.
E700-E899. There are no food additives under these numbers yet; these codes are reserved for new substances whose appearance is just around the corner.
E900-E999-defoamers
Not so long ago, in the 90s, a second, less extensive group appeared, in the designation of which after the letter E there are 4 digits E1000-E1521. This group of additives is responsible for ensuring that products such as flour, sugar, salt do not absorb moisture and remain crumbly (these are glazing agents, separators, sealants, flour and bread improvers, texturizers, packaging gases, sweeteners).
Within these various groups there are nutritional supplements that provide clear benefits to the body and are called “functional.” But experts are also increasingly speaking in favor of tightening control over the use of food additives due to their dangerous effects on the human body.
First, let’s figure out what they are—functional additives and “functional products”—and what benefits they provide.
Since the second half of the 20th century, vitamins and microelements have been added to many food products, which has made it possible to almost completely eliminate diseases associated with a deficiency of one or another element. Thus, cheilosis, angular stomatitis, glossitis, seborrheic dermatitis, conjunctivitis and keratitis associated with a lack of vitamin B2, riboflavin (E101 dye, which gives products a beautiful yellow); scurvy caused by deficiency of vitamin C, ascorbic acid (antioxidant E300); anemia, caused by a lack of vitamin E, tocopherol (antioxidant E306).
And adding additives containing probiotic forms of beneficial bacteria to foods and drinks strengthens immunity and health. All nutritionists agree on this.
These bacteria, taken daily in yoghurts, kefir and other fermented milk products, restore the natural balance of intestinal microflora and thus improve its functioning.
Functional additives also include very important essential fatty acid Omega-3 class. Their deficiency is associated with hyperactivity in children and depression in adults. They are the most important means in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
Bread and eggs enriched with omega-3 are produced.
Into bakery products for the purpose of their “health improvement”
Bran is added, which contains a large amount of plant fiber. It acts as a brush for the intestines, improves its functioning and helps eliminate toxins and waste.
When choosing such products, you should pay attention not only to the useful food additive, but also to the composition of such a product as a whole. Energy drinks with guarana may also contain excess simple sugar. The choice of “functional” products must be reasonable and based on specific goals. If you have high cholesterol, it makes sense to buy foods with special additives.
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