Contents
E442 is a food additive that belongs to the category of emulsifiers. The substance is considered safe and is used in the food industry in most countries of the world. Alternative areas of application are agriculture, pharmacology, paper and textile production. What you need to know about the supplement, how does it work and how safe is it for the human body?
What you need to know about emulsifiers?
An emulsifier is a special substance for creating an emulsion from liquids that do not mix with each other. The most common natural emulsifier is egg yolk. The modern food industry uses synthetic emulsifiers because they are much easier to obtain and use.
E442 helps create / stabilize the emulsion and achieve the desired structure. The additive can be found in the composition of industrial sauces (for example, mayonnaise), chocolate bars, ice cream, spreads, margarine and butter. It is the emulsifier that is responsible for the usual consistency of these products, their viscosity, plastic properties and the feeling of “fullness” in the mouth.
How do emulsifiers work? The principle of operation is based on the ability of surfactants (surfactants) to reduce energy for mixing liquids. It is surfactants that provide stability to the mass and help form a product with a denser structure.
General characteristics of the additive
The additive consists of a mixture of ammonium derivatives of phosphatidylic acid. The substance is obtained from dietary fats. Most often, chilled rapeseed oil is used. E-442 is an oily mass with an unobtrusive aroma and taste that does not irritate the receptors. The shade of the emulsifier varies from rich brown to yellow. The substance is highly soluble in hydrocarbons and warm oils, worse in glycols, warm water and other heated liquids. The additive is resistant to cold water, acetone, ethyl alcohol.
The maximum allowable dose of ammonium salts is 30 mg/kg of body weight per day. In confectionery products, the total content of emulsifiers should not exceed 1,5% by weight of the finished product.
Applications
The stabilizer is used in the production of paper, fabrics and even some metals (for example, tin, copper and bronze). Ammonium salts of phosphatidylic acid act as a mineral filler in fertilizers for plants. The substance regulates the acidity of the soil, creating favorable conditions for the growth and development of seeds. The component is also added to aqueous solutions for the production of lactic acid and malt. The emulsifier mixture is sprayed on the seeds before planting to improve their biological performance. A food additive is necessary in the manufacture of alcohols to ensure the vital activity of yeast. Also, the substance is added to lubricants, plasticizers, insecticides.
An emulsifier can be found in chocolate and most confectionery products that are made from cocoa powder. E-442 reduces the viscosity of the sweet mass, increases its resistance to high temperatures and prevents the formation of an oily crust on the finished dessert. The additive improves not only the taste, but also the decorative component of the dish. It is E442 that gives a special fluidity and a pleasant glossy reflection of chocolate icing.
Possible harm of ammonium salts
Useful properties of E442 were not found (due to synthetic origin), but the abuse of the additive may well harm the human body. Most often, the emulsifier triggers various allergic reactions, irritates the mucous walls of internal organs, and exacerbates existing inflammatory processes. Do not forget that each person is individual, and his reaction to a particular stimulus may be specific. That is why E442 is forbidden to be added to products for diabetics and infants. Also, the supplement is prohibited for patients with dysfunction of metabolic processes and pathologies of the digestive tract.
Rated consumption of E442 will not harm an adult healthy person. In home cooking, it is better to replace the emulsifier with an ordinary chicken egg or half a banana. So you increase the nutritional value of the dish, enrich it with nutrients and improve the taste. Control the use of synthetic additives and stay healthy.