Hexamethylenetetramine (E239)

Dietary supplement hexamethylenetetramine belongs to the group of preservatives. The ability of this substance to prevent the growth of bacteria and microorganisms was discovered back in the 239th century. The first product whose shelf life was extended with the help of the EXNUMX preservative was red caviar. Manufacturers immediately began to actively use hexamethylenetetramine in production, since the crystalline powder has a low cost and allows you to store the finished product for years.

Since the substance is completely synthetic and contains impurities of polymers and ammonium salts, it negatively affects the human body. Nevertheless, today this preservative is actively used in the food industry. The only thing is that there are strict restrictions on its content in finished products.

Method of obtaining

Get the preservative E239 in the laboratory. To do this, formaldehyde and ammonia are first mixed and then dissolved in distilled water. After a chemical reaction occurs, the solution is placed in a vacuum unit, where excess moisture is removed.

Another name for the preservative is urotropine or hexamine, this substance can also be called dry fuel. Urotropin is actively used in pharmacology. The main difference from a food additive is that the mixture of reagents does not dissolve in water, but in alcohol. In this case, the resulting powder contains fewer harmful impurities. However, the use of alcohol significantly increases the cost of E239, so hexamethylenetetramine obtained from an aqueous solution is used in food production.

It is worth noting that most of the highly developed countries of the world abandoned the use of this food additive several decades ago. The ban applies not only to local food producers, but also to imported goods.

Properties of substance

Externally, hexamine is a white crystalline powder with fairly large particles of regular shape. This substance can also take the form of small translucent balls.

The preservative is odorless. The taste is slightly sweet and at the same time spicy and spicy. Additive E239 is highly soluble in water and alcohol. For food production, the concentrate is supplied in paper or fabric bags weighing 25 kg.

The marking contains information not only about the production date and expiration date, but also a warning about the high combustible properties of hexamethylenetetramine.

Application in the fields

The only use of hexamethylenetetramine in the food industry is as a preservative. Since the substance negatively affects the human body, it is used by manufacturers only in the manufacture of expensive products that cannot be preserved in other ways.

Food additive E239 is found in the following products:

  • salmon red granular caviar;
  • some types of cheeses, in particular Provolone;
  • certain cultures of mushrooms.

The allowable daily intake of hexamethylenetetramine is 0,15 mg per kilogram of body weight.

The substance is actively used in other industries, for example, in the manufacture of polymers, artificial resins.

In pharmacology, alcohol-purified urotropin helps to effectively fight infections of the genitourinary system. In everyday life, there was also a use for this preservative – it can be used as a dry fuel.

The concentrate has no nutritional value. At the moment, there are no preservatives that would equally effectively suppress the growth of putrefactive bacteria and pathogenic microflora, and at the same time cause less harm to the body.

In order to reduce the harmful effects on the body, E239 is mixed with other preservatives – sodium benzoate or sorbic acid. This method allows minimizing the percentage of hexamine in the finished product without significantly reducing the shelf life.

Influence on the body

The ban on the use of hexamethylenetetramine in the food industry arose after research found that the substance decomposes into formaldehyde when it enters the body.

The process of splitting occurs in the kidneys. Given that formaldehyde is a cellular poison, many countries have simultaneously abandoned the use of this food additive.

What happens in the body when E239 is broken down into toxic components? Free formaldehyde affects the functioning of the digestive system by blocking the activity of enzymes. Because of this, the body receives much less nutrients from food. Additionally, digestive disorders are observed.

Formaldehyde, binding to the protein complexes of the body, disrupts the balance of microelements, in particular the content of iron. This adversely affects the characteristics of the blood and can cause anemia. The poison also affects the central nervous system, causing increased arousal and severe headaches.

Today there is data on laboratory studies, during which it was possible to prove the ability of hexamethylenetetramine to activate the growth of cancer cells. And regular use of this food additive contributes to the development of allergies.

The human digestive system quickly processes the preservative, but the formaldehyde formed during the decay process is excreted from the body for a long time. It takes at least 24 hours to completely clear the poison.

Hexamethylenetetramine can cause the most harm to a child’s body. Therefore, you should carefully study the labels of purchased food products and, if you find the E239 index there, permanently abandon this product. Despite the prohibitions, some unscrupulous manufacturers continue to use a preservative in the manufacture of red granular caviar – this is the product that should be given special attention. In order to protect against the effects of harmful additives, it is recommended to buy packaged caviar, which has all the necessary markings from the manufacturer.

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