What are food additives? Food additives: harmless and beneficial

Now we have a lot of foreign food products. Moreover, not all the best is brought to us. And our customers often find it difficult to understand the quality of the product. One of the indicators of quality and safety for consumption is what food additives are contained in a particular product. After all, to give the product certain qualities, various substances are added to it, which are sometimes poisons for the body. Moreover, some manufacturers “honestly” warn the buyer about this by placing a list of food additives in the ingredients using a special code (the so-called INS - International Numerical System) - a code of three or four digits, which in Europe is preceded by the letter E. Here we wanted tell us a little about such additives.

So, remember! The letter “E” is not Europe, but a digital code – a characteristic of a food additive to a product.

A code starting with 1 means dyes; 2 – preservatives, 3 – antioxidants (they prevent spoilage of the product), 4 – stabilizers (preserve its consistency), 5 – emulsifiers (maintain the structure), 6 – flavor and aroma enhancers, 9 – anti-flaming, that is antifoaming agents. Indices with a four-digit number indicate the presence of sweeteners - substances that preserve the friability of sugar or salt, glazing agents.

Food experts believe that the letter “E” is not as scary as it is painted: the use of additives is allowed in many countries, most of them do not cause side effects. But doctors often have a different opinion.

For example, preservatives E230, E231 and E232 are used in the processing of fruits (that's where oranges or bananas come from on store shelves that don't spoil for years!), and they are nothing more than... PHENOLS! The same one that, when entering our body in small doses, provokes cancer, and in large doses – he's just pure poison. Of course, they apply it for good purposes: to prevent spoilage of the product. And only on the peel of the fruit. And washing fruit before eating, we wash off the phenol. But do everyone always wash the same bananas? Someone just peels it, and then takes the flesh with the same hands. So much for phenol!

In addition, there are food additives that are strictly prohibited in Russia and the CIS countries. Remember them: E121 is a dye (citrus red), E240 is an equally dangerous formaldehyde. Powdered aluminum is coded under the E173 sign, which is used to decorate imported sweets and other confectionery products and which is also prohibited in our country.

But there are also harmless and even useful “E”. For example, additive E163 (dye) is just anthocyanin from grape skins. E338 (antioxidant) and E450 (stabilizer) are harmless phosphates that are necessary for our bones.

And here’s some more food for thought – natural dye E120 (carmine).

But doctors still insist on this conclusion: even those food additives that are made from natural raw materials still undergo deep chemical processing. And therefore, the consequences, you understand, can be ambiguous. So it is better to eat something that is grown with your own hands without any chemicals and preserved without preservatives. It’s just a pity that not all of us are gardeners and gardeners...

Classification of food additives:

Food additives prohibited for use:

E121, E123, E240

Food additives not approved for use

E103, E107, E125, E127, E128, E140, E153-155, E160d, E160f, E166, E173-175, E180, E182, E209, E213-219, E225-228, E230-233, E237, E238, E241, E252, E253, E264, E281-283, E302, E303, E305, E308-314, E317, E318, E323-325, E328, E329, E343-345, E349, E350-352, E355-357, E359, E365- 368, E370, E375, E381, E384, E387-390, E399, E403, E408, E409, E418, E419, E429-436, E441-444, E446, E462, E463, E465, E467, E474, E476-480, E482-489, E491-496, E505, E512, E519-523, E535, E537, E538, E541, E542, E550, E552, E554-557, E559, E560, E574, E576, E577, E579, E580, E622- 625, E628, E629, E632-635, E640, E641, E906, E908-911, E913, E916-919, E922-926, E929, E942-946, E957, E959, E1000, E1001, E1105, E1503, 1.

Some characteristics of other nutritional supplements:

List of chemical designations of food additives in alphabetical order:

O – dangerous; Z – prohibited; P – suspicious; P – crustacean; RK – intestinal disorders; VK – harmful to the skin; X – cholesterol; RZh – indigestion; OO – very dangerous; BP – blood pressure; C – rash; GM – genetically modified

Additives that are hazardous to health are highlighted in red!*

When shopping in stores, don’t be lazy to check the composition of products with the table!

So what do we actually eat?

Experiments conducted by American scientists have proven that potato chips, due to the acrylamide substance they contain, can cause the formation of cancerous tumors, reports the KPE information and analytical service with reference to the Gazeta newspaper.

The California Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against McDonalds, FritoLay and other manufacturers of French fries and chips. The Prosecutor General wants to force these companies to put special markings on all bags of chips.

The volume of the Russian chips market is 800 - 850 million dollars, but it is far from introducing American standards. As D. Yanin, Chairman of the Board of the Confederation of Consumer Societies, said, in Russia even the GOST standards that apply to certain groups of goods are already largely outdated. “It is not in the interests of manufacturers to provide complete information about the composition” of products, says Yanin. He also notes the weak attention of the state to the sphere of control over the activities of producers.

In fact, the principle “saving drowning people is the work of the drowning people themselves” applies. Buyers must determine for themselves by the packaging how harmful a particular product is. But in most cases, consumers do not even realize how harmful what is sometimes provided to them as a health product is.

Many of our internal problems start with an unbalanced diet. But even more starts with low-quality products. Many problems in this category are already widely known; we will briefly list some of them.

Today in supermarkets you can find a huge variety of products, which are quite easy to get confused about. Bright packaging, seductive pictures, shiny labels, plus all this is complemented by promotional price tags, and we make a purchase. Stop, first you need to carefully study the packaging, namely the composition of this product. The fewer different incomprehensible words it contains, the better. For example, GOST condensed milk contains only natural milk and sugar, but the same product, but produced according to specifications, has a completely different composition. It contains stabilizers and emulsifiers, as well as various substances labeled E. Today we will talk about them: everyone should have a table of harmful food additives at hand to prevent their consumption.

What are various nutritional supplements used for?

First of all, you should be wary of the “E” markings - they indicate food additives that are used all over the world as preservatives and stabilizers, flavor enhancers, thickeners and leavening agents. All this is needed to improve the nutritional properties of the product, as well as increase its shelf life.

Why do we need a table of harmful food additives, and are all substances labeled “E” harmful? No, there are neutral, harmful and even dangerous, and therefore it is important for each of us to know them and be able to distinguish them. After all, the quality and duration of our lives greatly depend on what we eat. The more vitamins and minerals in the diet and the less “chemicals”, the better.

Natural or artificial

Despite the assurances of manufacturers, almost all additives are artificial and therefore potentially dangerous. These are chemicals of synthetic origin. Considering that even the safest of them sometimes cause a reaction in particularly sensitive people, it is clear that the table of harmful food additives should be known to everyone. However, there is one more subtlety here: not all manufacturers warn you that their product contains additives with the “E” index. They often make do with general phrases like “does not contain artificial colors or flavors.” Others note the presence of stabilizers and thickeners, but do not indicate which additives were used. In this case, there is only one way out: refuse the purchase and choose a more honest manufacturer. This is especially important if the product is imported, because no one can guarantee that it does not contain prohibited products. Perhaps this will allow you to look differently at the products in supermarkets, because, despite their attractive appearance, almost all of them contain preservatives.

What does the number code next to the letter "E" mean?

Below we will look at what the table of harmful food additives includes, but for now let’s look at what these mysterious numbers mean. If the code starts with one, then you have a dye. All preservatives begin with 2, the number 3 denotes antioxidants - they are used to slow down or prevent spoilage of the product. All 4 are stabilizers, substances that help maintain the consistency of the product in the required form. The number 5 denotes emulsifiers; they work in tandem with stabilizers and preserve the structure of the product. The flavor and aroma enhancers that create the notes and shades we love so much begin with 6. Some products contain special substances that prevent foaming; they are marked with the number 9. If you see a four-digit index, this indicates the presence of sweeteners. The realities of life show that you need to know harmful food additives ("E"). The table will help you timely identify foods that should not be consumed.

Such different food additives "E"

This labeling may hide completely harmless and even useful substances, for example, plant extracts. This is the well-known acetic acid (E260). Baking soda (E500), or regular chalk (E170) and many others can be considered relatively safe E additives.

However, there are much more harmful substances than beneficial ones. You are mistaken if you think that these include only artificial additives; natural ones also have a negative effect on the body. Moreover, the more often they are used, the stronger and more pronounced their effect will be.

Healthy Supplements

You should not immediately return a product to the shelf just because it contains E. You need to look and analyze what substance is hidden behind it. The table of harmful and beneficial food additives will help you make the right choice. For example, the most common apple contains pectin, ascorbic acid and riboflavin, that is, E300, E440, E101, but it cannot be called harmful.

The most common beneficial supplements are curcumins, or E100 - these substances help control weight and are actively used in the production of fitness products. E101 is a common one that is famous for synthesizing hemoglobin and participating in metabolism. E160d - it helps strengthen the immune system. E270 is a powerful antioxidant that is widely used in pharmacology. To enrich products with iodine, the additive E916, that is, calcium iodate, is used. We can’t forget about lecithin E322 - this supplement supports the immune system and improves hematopoiesis.

Relatively harmless additives

Today the topic of our conversation is “Table of food additives “E”. Useful and harmful, they are ubiquitous in the most common food products. In this group we need to mention the dyes that are used by the most famous confectionery companies to give an attractive appearance to creams and cakes. This is chlorophyrol , or E140, green dye. Betanin is also known, that is, a red dye. It is extracted from the most common beets, the juice of which is excellent for coloring creams at home.

This group includes calcium carbonate (E170) and regular baking soda. Despite the fact that these substances do not pose a threat to life, in large quantities they can disrupt the acid-base balance in the body. E290 is ordinary carbon dioxide; all carbonated drinks are made with it. Every kitchen should have a table of food additives E. Useful and harmful, they are presented in such large quantities today that it is very difficult to remember what a particular substance means.

Additives to Avoid

Today the table contains 11 groups of additives, among which are dangerous, prohibited substances that are harmful to the skin and disrupt blood pressure. Since everyone needs to avoid foods that contain dangerous E's, we'll look at each group separately. You shouldn’t be negligent about your health and rely on the manufacturer. Many of them are guided only by short-term gain and do not think about reputation. Moreover, it is much easier to periodically close production and open it under a different name, releasing products with new labels. This is why you should know the harmful "E" food additives. The table will help you navigate and not forget what this or that code means. So let's get started.

Dangerous additives

This group includes many dyes, so if you see confectionery products colored in, think about whether you should take them to your children. Be sure to study harmful food additives "E": the table is updated periodically, so you need to update the printout, which is best kept next to the kitchen table.

This includes E102, namely tartrazine. It causes asthma attacks and is banned in several countries. E110 is a yellow dye that is banned in many countries because it causes an allergic reaction and nausea. E120 - carminic acid (research has not yet proven harmful, but doctors strongly recommend avoiding it). Red dyes E124, E127 and E129 are banned in a number of countries because they are carcinogenic. This also includes E155 (brown dye) and E180 (ruby rytol).

E220 - sulfur dioxide - should be used with caution in people with kidney failure. Feel free to put aside products containing E220, E222, E223, E224, E228, E233, E242. Recognized as dangerous

Very dangerous

If the previous group of additives is dangerous or potentially dangerous, then representatives of this category should be treated more than carefully. The fact is that the table of additives only gives you code designations behind which substances that stimulate the growth of cancer cells are hidden. To completely avoid contact with them, you will have to give up most confectionery products and seriously reconsider your view of the diet. The simpler the better, so bran biscuits, cereals and fruit are the safest choices.

However, let's return to our conversation. The table of the most dangerous additives "E" includes dyes such as E123 (amaranth). It is banned all over the world as it causes developmental pathologies in the fetus. In addition, this group includes E510, E513E, E527.

Prohibited substances: table of the most harmful food additives "E"

It should be noted that Russia has very lenient rules for manufacturing companies. Only 5 additives are officially banned, although the number is much higher worldwide. This is E952 - cyclamic acid and its sodium, potassium and calcium salts. This product was discontinued because it was found to be a strong carcinogen. E-216 - para-hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester - is also prohibited in Russia. But this is not all harmful food additives ("E"). The table includes a number of dyes in this group - these are E152, E130, E125, E126, E121, E111.

Substances that cause skin rashes

Everyone can imagine the effect of carcinogens on the body, so you need to do everything necessary to exclude from the menu products that contain the most harmful food additives. Having a table at hand will help you stop in time and not make an unnecessary purchase. Women should especially think about it, because many conditionally safe supplements cause deterioration of the skin. This is E151 (black, shiny BN) - in a number of countries it is completely prohibited. Second on the list is E231 (orthophenylphenol) and E232 (calcium orthophenylphenol). Aspartame, or E951, a favorite sugar substitute for many, also has a number of side effects and is not recommended for use without special reasons.

Let's sum it up

You may find this table useful every day. A food additive whose harmful effects have not been fully studied should be excluded from the diet. This group includes quite a lot of different “E” - these are E124, E122, E141, E150, E171, E173, E247, E471. To optimize your diet and consume as few synthetic additives as possible, study product packaging before purchasing. The fewer different components and unclear terms there are, the better. Do not purchase unfamiliar products, as well as those whose packaging does not contain ingredients, and give preference to well-known manufacturers.

Avoid products with bright, unnatural colors. They may contain too many dyes and preservatives. Give preference to natural products, grains, fermented milk, as well as vegetables and fruits. This diet is guaranteed to be free of harmful and dangerous substances. To maintain your health for as long as possible, try to avoid products that use harmful food additives ("E") in their production. A table containing the main ones will become your reliable assistant.

There are a lot of foreign food products in Russia now. Moreover, not all the best is brought to us. And our customers often find it difficult to understand the quality of the product. One of the indicators of quality and safety for consumption is what food additives are contained in a particular product. After all, to give the product certain qualities, various substances are added to it, which are sometimes poisons for the body. Moreover, some manufacturers “honestly” warn the buyer about this by placing a list of food additives in the ingredients using a special code (the so-called INS - International Numerical System) - a code of three or four digits, which in Europe is preceded by the letter E. Here we wanted tell us a little about such additives.

So, remember! The letter “E” stands for Europe, and the digital code is a characteristic of the food additive to the product.

A code starting with 1 means dyes; 2 - preservatives, 3 - antioxidants (they prevent spoilage of the product), 4 - stabilizers (preserve its consistency), 5 - emulsifiers (maintain the structure), 6 - flavor and aroma enhancers, 9 - anti-flaming, that is antifoaming agents. Indices with a four-digit number indicate the presence of sweeteners - substances that preserve the friability of sugar or salt, glazing agents.

Are these supplements harmful? Food experts believe that the letter “E” is not as scary as it is painted: the use of additives is allowed in many countries, most of them do not cause side effects. But doctors often have a different opinion.

For example, preservatives E-230, E-231 and E-232 are used when processing fruits (that's where oranges or bananas come from on store shelves that don't spoil for years!), and they are nothing more than... PHENOLS! The one that, when it enters our body in small doses, provokes cancer, and in large doses it is simply pure poison. Of course, they apply it for good purposes: to prevent spoilage of the product. And only on the peel of the fruit. And washing fruit before eating, we wash off the phenol. But do everyone always wash the same bananas? Someone just peels it, and then takes the flesh with the same hands. So much for phenol!

In addition, there are food additives that are strictly prohibited in Russia. Remember them: E-121 is a dye (citrus red), E-240 is an equally dangerous formaldehyde. Powdered aluminum is coded under the sign E-173, which is used to decorate imported sweets and other confectionery products and which is also prohibited in our country.

But there are also harmless and even useful “E”. For example, the additive E-163 (dye) is just anthocyanin from grape skins. E-338 (antioxidant) and E-450 (stabilizer) are harmless phosphates that are necessary for our bones.

But doctors still insist on this conclusion: even those food additives that are made from natural raw materials still undergo deep chemical processing. And therefore, the consequences, you understand, can be ambiguous. So it is better to eat something that is grown with your own hands without any chemicals and preserved without preservatives. It’s just a pity that not all of us are gardeners and gardeners...

Food additives prohibited for use in the Russian Federation:
E121, E123, E240
Food additives not approved for use in the Russian Federation:

E103, E107, E125, E127, E128, E140, E153-155, E160d, E160f, E166, E173-175, E180, E182, E209, E213-219, E225-228, E230-233, E237, E238, E241, E252, E253, E264, E281-283, E302, E303, E305, E308-314, E317, E318, E323-325, E328, E329, E343-345, E349, E350-352, E355-357, E359, E365- 368, E370, E375, E381, E384, E387-390, E399, E403, E408, E409, E418, E419, E429-436, E441-444, E446, E462, E463, E465, E467, E474, E476-480, E482-489, E491-496, E505, E512, E519-523, E535, E537, E538, E541, E542, E550, E552, E554-557, E559, E560, E574, E576, E577, E579, E580, E622- 625, E628, E629, E632-635, E640, E641, E906, E908-911, E913, E916-919, E922-926, E929, E942-946, E957, E959, E1000, E1001, E1105, E1503, 1.

Some characteristics of other nutritional supplements:

List of chemical designations of food additives in alphabetical order:

O - dangerous; Z - prohibited; P - suspicious; P—crustaceous; RK - intestinal disorders; VK - harmful to the skin; X - cholesterol; RZh - indigestion; OO - very dangerous; BP - blood pressure; C - rash; GM - genetically modified

Classification of food additives:

1) Natural, plant-based gelling agent from red algae. Indigestible. Interferes with the absorption of minerals by the body. In large doses it has a laxative effect.

2) 200 times sweeter than sugar. In Japan and the USA - genetically modified! If not cleaned properly and in large dosages, it can be hazardous to health! The permissible dose per day is 40 mg per 1 kg of weight. In a person weighing 60 kg, this dose is already achieved after consuming 1.2 kg of Light yoghurt or 8 cups of coffee sweetened with aspartame. For a child weighing 25 kg, 600 g of “Light” yogurt is enough.

2) An artificial substance, made from ammonia and formaldehyde. In Western Europe it is only allowed in Provalone cheeses. Used in medicines, for disinfection of skin and urinary tract, and also as a preservative in cosmetics

3) Allowed as a preservative against mold and fungi for the treatment of citrus peels; it can be transferred with your fingers to the pulp of the fruit itself. It is recommended to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning. In animals in large doses it causes internal bleeding and organ changes.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), food additives are natural compounds and chemicals that are not normally consumed in food, but are deliberately introduced into foods in limited quantities. In different countries, about 500 food additives are used in food production.

Additives are developed by microbiologists and chemists, then tested from several months to several years. If the tests are successful, then the regulatory organization of the country where the additive was developed recommends it for widespread use.

What is the meaning or, more correctly, the function of additives? Additives regulate the moisture content of products, crush and loosen, emulsify and compact, bleach and glaze, oxidize, cool and preserve, and so on. They can even turn foods into foam.

The letter "E" is short for "Europe" - this is how the European Commission on Food Additives labels chemical compounds contained in foods. This is followed by a three- or four-digit number, in which the full name of the mysterious compound is encoded. The numbers began to be used in 1953 to shorten the names of chemical additives that are too long.

Thus, additives with code E-1** are dyes of artificial or natural origin.

The preservative code is E-2**, they prevent the development of bacteria in products.

Antioxidants (E-3**) prevent fat oxidation and prevent the development of toxic bacteria. Tocopherols and vitamin E are coded under E-306 and E-309 - these are safe additives, which cannot be said about the antioxidants BHA (E-320) and BHT (E-321).

Stabilizers and emulsifiers (E-4**) improve the texture and appearance of products. Sweeteners (E-4** and E-9**) are widely used and are approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. Some of them (for example, E-952, a cyclamate used in carbonated drinks) are not safe enough. Flavor enhancers and other additives (E-2**, E-3**, E-5**, E-9**) are used both at the preparation stage and in the final products.

There are a lot of additives, and they differ in their effects. For example, nitrates (E-250 - sodium nitrite, E-251 - sodium nitrate and E-252 - potassium nitrate) are found in sausages, smoked fish, sprats, and canned herring. They are also added to hard cheeses to prevent swelling. Products containing these additives should not be consumed by people suffering from liver diseases, intestinal diseases, dysbacteriosis, or cholecystitis. In such people, part of the nitrates, entering the gastrointestinal tract, turns into more toxic nitrites, which in turn form quite strong carcinogens - nitrosamines. And E-620 - glutamic acid and E-621 - glutamate are used to enhance and preserve taste. Neither glutamic acid nor its salts can be called harmful compounds. On the contrary, the heart muscle and brain especially need this acid. By the way, if there is a shortage, our body itself can begin to synthesize it. But when there is an excess, it begins to have a toxic effect, especially on the liver and pancreas.

The bad news is that the packaging does not indicate the amount of additives contained, so it is difficult to determine the amount of product that is safe to consume per day.

There are also harmful food additives, previously there were only three of them - E-121 (citrus red dye), E-123 (amaranth dye) and E-240 (formaldehyde preservative). The first two are usually found in sweet carbonated water, candies, colored ice cream, and E-240 - from the category of preservatives - is present in canned food of any kind (mushrooms, compotes, jams, juices, etc.) It has already been scientifically proven that all three additives may contribute to the formation of malignant tumors. Interestingly, just a few years ago, banned additives, such as E-240, were used quite legally. In particular, such indices were on the wrappers of MARS chocolate bars, and formally the manufacturing company acted absolutely correctly - at that moment there was no ban on this additive. There are no prohibited indices on the wrappers of current MARS vehicles.

Now E-216 (para-hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester) and E-217 (para-hydroxybenzoic acid propyl ester, sodium salt) have also been added. These preservatives were often used in the production of candies, filled chocolates, jelly coating meat products, pates, soups and broths.

In general terms:
A code starting with 1 means dyes; 2 - preservatives, 3 - antioxidants (they prevent spoilage of the product), 4 - stabilizers (preserve its consistency), 5 - emulsifiers (maintain the structure), 6 - flavor and aroma enhancers, 9 - anti-flaming, that is antifoaming agents. Indices with a four-digit number indicate the presence of sweeteners - substances that preserve the friability of sugar or salt, glazing agents.
Food additives E that do not have a harmful effect on human health when used for the manufacture of food products. (SanPin. 2.3.2. 1078-01)

Food additives - dyes:
E-100, E-101, E-102, E-103, E-104, E-107, E-110, E-120, E-122, E-124, E-128, E-129, E- 131, E-132, E-133, E-140, E-141, E-142, E-143, E-150а, E-150b, E-150с, E-150d, E-151, E-152, E-153, E-155, E-160a, E-160b, E-160c, E-160d, E-160e, E-160f, E-161a, E-161b, E-161c, E-161d, E- 161e, E-161f, E-161g, E-162, E-163, E-170, E-171, E-172, E-174, E-175, E-181, E-182.
Food additives - preservatives:
E-200, E-201, E-202, E-203, E-209, E-210, E-211, E-212, E-213, E-214, E-215, E-216, E- 217, E-218, E-219, E-220, E-221, E-222, E-223, E-224, E-225, E-226, E-227, E-228, E-230, E-231, E-232, E-234, E-235, E-236, E-237, E-238, E-239, E-241, E-249, E-250, E-251, E- 252, E-260, E-261, E-262, E-263, E-264, E-265, E-266, E-270, E-281, E-282, E-283, E-290 ( gas for saturation of drinks), E-296 (malic acid - acidity regulator), E-297 (fumaric acid - acidity regulator).
Food additives – antioxidants:
E-300 (ascorbic acid), E-301, E-302, E-303, E-304, E-305, E-306, E-307, E-308 (synthetic), E-309 (synthetic), E-310, E-311, E-312, E-314, E-315, E-316, E-317, E-318, E-319, E-320, E-321, E-322, E- 323, E-325, E-326, E-327, E-328, E-329, E-330, E-331(substituted), E-332(substituted), E-333, E-334, E- 335(substituted), E-336(substituted), E-337, E-338, E-339(substituted), E-340(substituted), E-341(substituted), E-342(substituted), E- 343(substituted), E-345, E-349, E-350(substituted), E-351(substituted), E-352, E-353, E-354, E-355, E-356, E-357 , E-359, E-363, E-366, E-367, E-368, E-375, E-380, E-381, E-383, E-384, E-385, E-386, E -387, E-391.
Food additives – thickeners:
E-400, E-401, E-402, E-403, E-404, E-405, E-406, E-407, E-407a, E-409, E-410, E-411, E- 412, E-413, E-414, E-415, E-416, E-417, E-418, E-419, E-420, E-421, E-422, E-430, E-431, E-432, E-433, E-434, E-435, E-436, E-440, E-442, E-444, E-445, E-446, E-450, E-451, E- 452, E-459, E-462, E-466, E-468, E-469.
Food additives – emulsifiers:
E-460, E-461, E-463, E-464, E-465, E-467, E-470, E-471, E-472a, E-472b, E-472c, E-472d, E- 472e, E-472f, E-472g, E-473, E-474, E-475, E-476, E-477, E-478, E-479, E-480, E-481, E-482, E-483, E-491, E-492, E-493, E-494, E-495, E-496.
Food additives – acidity regulators and leavening agents that prevent caking and clumping:
E-500, E-501, E-503, E-504, E-505, E-507, E-508, E-509, E-510, E-511, E-513, E-515, E- 516, E-517, E-518, E-519, E-520, E-521, E-522, E-523, E-524, E-525, E-526, E-527, E-528, E-529, E-530, E-535, E-536, E-538, E-539, E-541, E-542, E-550, E-551, E-552, E-553, E- 554, E-555, E-556, E-558, E-559, E-560, E-570, E-574, E-575, E-576, E-577, E-578, E-579, E-580, E-585 (iron lactate, color stabilizer).
Food additives – taste and aroma enhancers:
E-620, E-621(substituted), E-622(substituted), E-623, E-624(substituted), E-524, E-625, E-626, E-627(substituted), E- 628(substituted), E-629, E-630, E-631(substituted), E-632, E-633, E-634, E-635(substituted), E-636, E-637, E-640 , E-641, E-642.
Nutritional supplements have been used in nutrition since ancient times. Natural dyes, flavors, and preservatives were added to the products. It is thanks to food additives: preservatives, stabilizers, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers that products acquire a beautiful color, taste, and smell.

From the point of view of provoking oncological diseases, others can cause a slight malfunction of the digestive organs, load the kidneys and liver with additional work, and cause allergic reactions, but, fortunately, there are a certain number of supplements that do not have any harmful effects on the body, and an even smaller part can be used even by small children. We will talk about E food additives that are safe for baby food in this article.

We provide a list of harmless and even beneficial food additives. However, even pediatricians do not recommend using them frequently.

E140–141 – the plant component chlorophyll, which gives plants a green color, and its compounds with copper.

E160 is a compound that behaves like in the body. E160 is a natural dye that is obtained from tropical plants, algae and palm oil.

E161 - lutein, can even be useful for the organs of vision.

E163 is a dye that is obtained naturally from the skins of red grapes, currants, chokeberries, etc.

E260 is vinegar obtained from the fermentation of natural products.

E270 – lactic acid.

E290 is carbon dioxide found in carbonated drinks.

E296 is malic acid, considered a harmless substance, but it is better for children not to use it often.

E300–302 – ascorbic acid, i.e. vitamin C, which is beneficial for the immune system.

Nutritional supplements in baby food

Citric acid (E330) helps the product to be stored longer, does not destroy the vitamins it contains, and practically does not cause allergies.

Lecithin. It is a necessary substance for the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Lecithin is responsible for thought processes and memory, and is necessary for better absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, which is so important for active children. And don’t be alarmed if the packaging says it’s made from soy: plant-derived lecithin has been proven to be more effective.

Lemon acid. Added to baby food as a preservative. It has the advantage of very rarely causing allergies. Citric acid increases the shelf life of the product, prevents the destruction of vitamins and the breakdown of fats. Therefore, banana puree in a jar does not turn black, but has a pleasant light color.

Starch. More often used in the preparation of meat purees to prevent them from separating. Adding starch to pureed fruits and vegetables gives them the desired consistency, which makes the dish easier to hold on a spoon, and starch promotes better digestion of fruits. Preferably puree containing starch.

On a note! The red coloring used in yoghurts is made from insects.

List of other food additives E that do not cause harm to the body

E100 – yellow-orange dyes from turmeric or saffron; some sources provide information about their beneficial effects on the body.

E152 – coal.

E162 is a natural red dye.

E170 is a source of calcium, because it is chalk.

E297 – fumaric acid.

E326 is a salt of lactic acid, which is usually found in processed cheese.

E406 is agar-agar obtained from seaweed, without which it is impossible to imagine making marmalade.

E410-411 – thickeners obtained from carob and oats.

E420 – sorbitol itself or its syrup.

E900–903 is a wax used to treat fruits, which increases their shelf life. It is harmless and does not enter the body if fruits and vegetables are washed with a brush under warm running water and the peel is cut off.

E905b, c – Vaseline and paraffin also used for processing vegetables and fruits.

E958 – obtained from licorice root.

E960 is a substance of natural origin – stevioside, obtained from the herb.

Tips on how to reduce E supplements in food

• Read the ingredients of the product carefully;
• carefully look for the shelf life - the longer it is, the more preservatives and antioxidants there are in such a product;
• do not buy products with unnaturally bright colors;
• It’s better to buy fruits and vegetables at the market, not imported, but local;
• limit your child’s consumption of chips, packaged foods, salty crackers, breakfast cereals, etc.;
• For a child, it is better to make juices yourself, to prepare juices for the winter from fruits grown on your own plot;
• pay attention - sometimes, instead of preservatives, ready-to-eat products contain large amounts of salt or sugar;
• eat less sausages, canned meats, smoked meats - these products more often than others contain carcinogens and substances that can be classified as poisons;
• baby food for the little ones is made without dyes, preservatives, flavors, etc., and vegetables and fruits purchased in the supermarket are treated with special substances that prolong their shelf life, so baby puree from jars for babies may be healthier than homemade freshly prepared;
• For parents whose children suffer from allergies or have chronic diseases of internal organs, the list of food additives E should be studied in more detail.