Additive E385 is a calcium-sodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The appearance of the substance is normal: white powder, which has good solubility in water. This product is widely used in many industries. E385 is an antioxidant that protects food from various kinds of oxidation, bitterness and color changes. The additive can be either a natural compound or a chemically synthesized one. Most often, it is added to various fat and oil emulsions (for example, in sauces, mayonnaise).
A substance of organic origin has the ability to bind metal ions (iron, copper, cobalt). This property is necessary for the preservation of mayonnaises; iron ions are always present in egg whites, which, without ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), are able to catalyze lipid oxidation reactions.
The substance itself cannot be called useful, although it cannot be called dangerous to health either. The concentration in mayonnaise is very small, so it cannot harm the body. However, products containing E385 should not be given to young children.
Application of EDTA
Naturally, the main application of this food additive is the food industry. Most often, E385 is added in the preparation of mayonnaise and other sauces, which include bird eggs. This additive prevents the oxidation mechanism from starting.
In many countries, this antioxidant is allowed in some products: low-fat margarine, vegetables, mushrooms, canned food.
Also, the food supplement is popular with manufacturers of various soft drinks. The mixture of substances that supply carbonated drinks turns into a very dangerous carcinogen – benzene. Its action is aimed at neutralizing ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The additive is also used by brewers. The substance is aimed at 2 tasks at the same time: it promotes increased foaming and extends the shelf life.
The second place in terms of the use of the substance E385 is medicine. The composition of many drugs includes salts of heavy metals. These drugs are aimed at the treatment of skin, ophthalmic and urological diseases. The accumulation of these metals (mercury dioxide, copper sulfate, zinc) in the liver or kidneys can cause severe poisoning.
The E385 additive is often used in dentistry, it is used as anesthesia, as well as in the treatment of dental canals. In cosmetology, this substance is added to skin creams, shampoos and soaps.
This dietary supplement is approved and widely used in many countries of the European Union, Canada, the USA and Russia. The status of the E385 additive in Ukraine is not entirely clear.
The benefits and harms of supplements
It should be noted that ethylenediaminetetraacetate is not absorbed by the human body and is excreted from it in a natural way. If we consider from this side, then it is quite possible to say that the food supplement is safe for human life and health. Manufacturers of various products claim that they add a substance in a small amount that cannot cause harm. The consumer can only take his word for it, because it is quite difficult for an ordinary person to verify this information. If we actually talk about a safe dose per day, then the food supplement E385 is allowed in an amount of not more than 2,5 mg per 1 kilogram of human body weight. Exceeding these limits can cause serious disorders and problems in the human body. Possible metabolic disorders, allergies, anemia, chronic fatigue. If the synthetic additive has not had time to be excreted from the body, then heavy metal salts remain in the liver, which can cause poisoning. It is very important not to exceed the permissible norm and not to abuse products containing the E385 additive.