List "E" - what substances does it actually contain? In the common awareness of consumers, additives are synonymous primarily with preservatives, which does not fully correspond to the actual state. Additional substances are divided into 26 categories, including: dyes, sweeteners, flavor enhancers, stabilizers, preservatives, improvers.
Additional substances, marked with the symbol E , have the vast majority of food products available on our market. They contain an identification number according to the international INS (International Numbering System). Each of these substances, to be approved for food production, must have a positive opinion of the FAO / WHO Expert Committee on Food, and in the European Union - the European Food Safety Authority. These institutions assess substances in terms of the risk to the he alth of the consumer arising from their consumption. Currently, the rules for the use of additional substances (i.e. doses, product categories to which they can be added) are specified in the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No. 1333/2008 of December 16, 2008, which is mandatory for all EU countries.
"E" doesn't have to be harmful!
A myth repeated by consumers is that food additives are artificially manufactured substances, ergo they are not safe for he alth. Meanwhile, many of the additives used by the food industry occur in nature, e.g. benzoic acid contained in raspberries, plums or blueberries. Pursuant to EU regulations, food producers must mark the use of additives by providing the symbol E together with the appropriate identification number and the technological function that a given substance performs in a food.
Sweeteners in food: acesulfame, aspartame, sucralose
Sweeteners play an important role in the production of "light" food, energy-reduced or sugar-free food. Among the best known are: Intensive sweeteners (including: acesulfameK E 950,aspartameE 951,sucraloseE 955). Their sweetness is many times higher than the sweetening power of sucrose. Therefore, these substances are used in very small amounts, so they do not affect the energy value of the product.
1. Be aware that products containing aspartame ( E 951 ) or s alt of aspartame andacesulfame ( E 962 ) cannot be consumed by people suffering from phenylketonuria. Hence, manufacturers are obliged by EU law to place relevant information on the packaging.
2. Polyols (including: sorbitolE 420 , xylitolE 967 ) are substances characterized by a lower sweetness level than sucrose with a lower energy value. Excessive consumption of products containing polyols can disturb the peristalsis. Products containing polyols in excess of 10% must be labeled with a note that excessive consumption of these products may have a laxative effect.
Products to which sweeteners have been applied must be labeled that the product contains sweeteners. If both sugar and sweeteners are added - this information must appear on the product label.
Dyes can negatively affect babies
In order to make a food product more attractive, dyes are often used in its production. They can be found in products such as: confectionery, pastry products, confectionery bread, desserts, ice cream, soft drinks. On product labels that contain the following dyes: sunset yellow ( E 110 ), quinoline yellow ( E 104 ), azorubine ( E 122 ), Allura Red ( E 129 ), Tartrazine ( E 102 ), Cochineal Red ( E 124 ), additional information appears about the possible harmful effects of the above-mentioned dyes for activity and attention in children. It is worth noting that sometimes the use of additives in a food product is a necessity in order to be able to ensure the appropriate quality and safety of the product. An example is cured meats, the production of which uses nitrites ( E 249-E 250 ), which effectively inhibit the microorganisms responsible for the formation of toxic botulism. However, it should be remembered that excessive consumption of products containing additives may be associated with a potential he alth risk. Therefore, it is advisable to use a varied diet, choose the least processed food, follow the rules of good nutrition, and when choosing food products - follow the information on the labels.
Food and Nutrition Institute