Contents
We are all used to the fact that chemical synthetic food additives only bring harm to the human body. However, this is not the case. There are such artificially derived substances that bring much more benefit than potential danger. One such safe substance is the stabilizer and emulsifier E509, popularly known as calcium chloride.
The safety of such a food additive has been proven in the course of many scientific studies and experiments, thanks to which calcium chloride has received official permission to be used in various industries, including the food industry.
Physical and chemical properties of the product
Calcium chloride has other names: calcium chloride, calcium chloride nitrate, E509. Molecular formula of the substance: CaCl2.
Such a nutritional supplement is presented in the form of crystalline granules, often white, less often completely transparent. The substance has a high moisture absorption, it dissolves well in alcohol liquids and water. Resistant to high temperatures. The melting point of calcium chloride is seven hundred and seventy-two degrees Celsius, and it boils at a temperature of 1935 degrees Celsius. At the same time, an aqueous solution of a substance crystallizes at temperatures below twenty degrees Celsius.
Such a food additive is obtained in the production of soda, namely, in the recovery of ammonia.
The use of the substance in the food industry
On the territory of the Russian Federation, the use of this substance is not prohibited, but is strictly controlled by law. The European Union also considers calcium chloride to be a fairly safe product and it is legally used in the medical and food industries.
As a food additive, calcium chloride is included in a wide variety of foods to stabilize some of their properties, as well as as an emulsifier and preservative. Most often it can be found in dairy and sour-milk products, especially in powdered cream and pasteurized milk. But it is also found in cottage cheese and various types of cheeses.
Other products in the manufacture of which calcium chloride is used include: caviar, canned vegetables and fruits, various jellies and marmalades, condensed milk, dry mashed potatoes, chocolate and beer.
This substance is used in the food industry for the following processes:
- When pasteurizing cream, adding calcium chloride to it significantly reduces acidity, which facilitates the process of making butter.
- It is indispensable as a thickening component in the milk powder production process. The fact is that calcium ions help better adhesion of proteins to each other. Such a substance allows you to normalize the process of coagulation of dairy products during pasteurization and improves the formation of a clot. Adding it to milk increases its final yield and leads to a significant improvement in quality.
- Additive labeled E509 acts as a stabilizer in the manufacture of chocolate, preventing it from hardening.
- In the production of cottage cheese, calcium chloride helps to better coagulate milk.
- In the manufacture of marmalade, calcium chloride also acts as a stabilizer.
- This substance prevents vegetables and fruits from softening during preservation, and also normalizes the taste, bringing it to the desired salting.
- In the manufacture of beer and soft drinks, such a product is used to reduce the hardness of water and improve its performance, as well as to regulate acidity.
Application in other areas
Due to its useful qualities, calcium chloride is widely used in various areas of life. This is a popular product in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, it is often included in the composition of various medications, the action of which is aimed at improving blood clotting, as well as antihistamines.
Food emulsifier E509 is used for the following processes:
- production of latex goods and rubber products;
- for the production of lactic acid;
- in the production of glue;
- for the production of rubber products;
- when laying asphalt, improving its setting;
- used as an anti-dust and anti-icing agent;
- in preparation for gas transportation;
- in the manufacture of metallic calcium;
- when lowering the dew point and drying gas at gas distribution stations and autogas filling compressor units.
Useful and harmful properties of the additive E509
No matter how safe the substance is, it must be consumed in acceptable dosages. The daily norm of an adult is 350 mg of calcium chloride. And such a dose is considered absolutely harmless and safe.
Negative and unpleasant consequences can also occur with an increase in permissible dosages. The use of this emulsifier in large quantities causes irritation of the digestive system, in the most serious situations this can lead to the development of stomach ulcers.
However, the beneficial properties of this substance far outweigh the possible harm. These include:
- help in the formation of bone tissue;
- compensation of calcium in the human body, which has a positive effect on the nervous system and the contraction of muscle tissue;
- regulation of blood clotting;
- helps to increase the body’s natural defenses and its resistance to various infectious diseases;
- positive effect on the heart muscle;
- an obstacle to the emergence and development of inflammatory processes.
In addition, calcium chloride is often used for weak labor, for liver diseases such as hepatitis or toxic liver damage. It is often used for skin diseases: psoriasis, eczema. Calcium chloride is used for inflammation caused by endometritis, as well as for a severe allergic reaction of Quincke’s edema.
In pediatric practice, calcium chloride is often used to relieve the symptoms of various allergic reactions caused by the use of allergenic foods or medicines. It is also prescribed to babies after vaccinations to relieve unpleasant symptoms.
Instead of conclusions
Calcium chloride is a chemical with such beneficial properties that it is widely used in medicine and in food products. Products prepared using such a food emulsifier are labeled E509. In medicine, calcium chloride has proven itself remarkably as a panacea for various pathologies. In addition, its valuable qualities are successfully applied in other areas of industry. However, it is worth remembering that although this substance is harmless, it must be used in strictly regulated dosages in order to avoid unnecessary unpleasant consequences.