Contents
Esters and glycerides of fatty acids are a set of food additives combined into a single group labeled E472. All these compounds are emulsifiers and stabilizers, due to which they are widely used in practical applications in various areas of life.
Overview
The chemical compounds included in this group have different names: esters of glycerol, esters of diacetyltartaric and fatty acids, esters of glycerol, E472, Esters glycerides of acids, Fatty Acid Esters of Glycerol, and others.
The basis for their production is glycerin and some fatty organic acids: tartaric, acetic, citric, lactic.
Accordingly, depending on the composition and physical properties of the substances included in the group, various properties of the final product will also change: color, volatility, aroma, viscosity. It can be either a colorless, volatile, aromatic liquid or a yellowish-brown oily substance. There are also such additives in the form of crystalline powders or wax of light shades, which are very poorly soluble in various liquids.
This group includes various substances that, when labeled, differ by the final letter: a, b, c, d, e, f, g. It depends on the occurrence of one or another organic fatty acid in the composition of the substance.
Esters of acetic acid and glycerols of fatty acids are marked with the E472a sign, lactic acid esters are marked with the E472b marker, citric acid esters are assigned to E472c, respectively, and tartaric acid esters are E472d.
E472e – denotes acetyl esters of tartaric acid, E472f – mixed esters of tartaric and acetic acid, and E472g are monoglycerides of succinic acid.
Application of group of esters and glycerides
Most often, such compounds are found in the food industry, where they are used as an emulsifier, thickener, and stabilizer. They are used in the manufacture of bakery products, fish and meat preserves, dairy products and flour products.
Often esters of organic fatty acids are used in the chemical industry, for the production of paints and varnishes. They also found their place in the pharmaceutical industry. They are added to liniments and ointments to give them density.
They can also be used in the cosmetic industry. Since many cosmetics are emulsions, such emulsifiers are used to stabilize them.
Useful and harmful properties of emulsifiers
As soon as such substances enter the human body, under the influence of metabolic processes, they break down into acids and fats, which are completely absorbed in this case. Esters or glycerides are not considered dangerous, their use does not cause any harm to a person and does not cause any adverse reactions from various internal organs and systems. In some cases, an allergic reaction may occur in those people who do not eat animal products. But this is typical only for those glycerides and esters that are made from animal fats.
This food supplement is not prohibited in the Russian Federation, so it can be freely bought and used to prepare various dishes. The consumption rate is determined only for wine esters of the E472d additive and it is thirty milligrams of the substance per kilogram of human weight per day.
Instead of conclusions
The group of food additives marked with the E472 mark includes some esters or glycerides of fatty acids of organic origin. They are very popular in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries as thickeners, emulsifiers and stabilizers. They are absolutely harmless and, when eaten, are completely absorbed by the body without causing any harm to it. Only those people who do not eat animal products should be careful. In this case, it is worth using only those supplements that are made on the basis of vegetable fats.