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The attractive appearance of goods is of no small importance for manufacturers who seek to attract the attention of buyers and sell their products. Food glazing coatings and sealants are designed to give food products gloss and shine, preserve their taste and extend shelf life. Glazing agents include waxes, wax esters, resins, paraffins and edible varnishes.
Natural waxes are obtained, as a rule, from vegetable raw materials and are used mainly in the confectionery industry as an ingredient for food glaze. However, waxes of natural origin are not profitable for use on an industrial scale, so they have been replaced by synthetic additives, which are distinguished by their speed of action and relatively low cost.
Hydrogenated poly-1-decene, also known as crystal wax, is listed as E907 in the dietary supplement registry and is classified as a glazing agent. This substance may be present in the composition of the coating for fruits, dried fruits, candied fruits, confectionery and sweet bakery products. As an additive, crystal wax is used exclusively in manufacturing processes and is not available for retail sale. Within the normal range, the E907 additive is non-toxic and does not pose a threat to human health.
Poly-1-decene hydrogenated: general information
Hydrogenated poly-1-decene is a thick, colorless liquid of a waxy consistency without a pronounced odor. Under industrial conditions, it is synthesized by catalytic hydrogenation of 1-decene polymers (tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexamers) and purified using activated clay.
The substance thus obtained consists of a mixture of branched isomeric hydrocarbons predominantly with a carbon number above 30. Small amounts of molecules with lower carbon numbers may be present, however, the specific nature of the substance requires that their concentration is not more than 1,5%.
| Systematic name | Hydrogenated poly-1-decene (Hydrogenated poly-1-decene) |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Hydrogenated poly-a-olefin (PAO) |
| Traditional name | Crystal Wax |
| Origin | Synthetic |
| Group | Paraffin (wax) |
| Structure | Mixture of isoparaffin molecules obtained by hydrogenation of 1-decene polymers |
| Formula | C10nH20n 2 +, where n = 3 to 6 |
| Description | Viscous liquid, colorless and odorless |
| Food additive number | E907 |
| Application | Glazing agent, release agent |
Hydrogenated poly-1-decene is characterized by good solubility in combustible substances, slightly soluble in alcohol and insoluble in water. The crystal wax itself is also highly flammable and burns with a characteristic paraffinic odour.
The benefits and harms of crystal wax
Hydrogenated poly-1-decene is a conditionally non-toxic nutritional supplement that is not absorbed by the body and does not have any positive or negative effects on it. The substance is not consumed in its pure form, and crystal wax is present in foodstuffs in very small doses, so it is generally accepted that the additive does not bring any benefit or harm.
The effect of hydrogenated poly-1-decene on living organisms was studied in laboratory conditions using several groups of rodents with different concentrations of the test substance in the daily diet. Daily monitoring of the condition of the animals and comparison of data from different groups confirmed the absence of toxic effects of crystal wax.
Absorption, absorption and excretion studies of hydrogenated poly-1-decene have shown that less than 1% of the substance is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. This conclusion was supported by the results of a 90-day experiment on rodents, which showed that crystal wax is not absorbed, does not accumulate in tissues and is excreted from the body naturally.
A side effect of the consumption of large doses of hydrogenated poly-1-decene by rodents was a temporary oiliness of the hairline, which increased as the concentration of the substance in the body increased and disappeared after its excretion. This led to the idea that exceeding the daily allowable dose of crystal wax reduces the bioavailability of essential fatty acids, in particular linoleic.
In the food industry, crystal wax is used as an additive in strictly limited quantities in accordance with sanitary and hygienic standards. There is anecdotal evidence that the product may cause an allergic reaction in the form of a skin rash. Cases of overdose, toxic poisoning and other manifestations of the negative effect of the additive on the human body have not been registered.
Crystal wax in food
Hydrogenated poly-1-decene is not a widely used additive and has only two applications in the food industry. Crystalline wax is present in sugar coatings in amounts not exceeding 2000 mg per kg and is used as a release agent in bread baking in factories and commercial bakeries.
In small quantities, E907 is also included in protective shells for drugs and dietary supplements, but its main tasks are to extend the shelf life of products, preserve their shape, taste and aroma.
Foods that can be made with crystal wax:
- yeast bread made from white and whole grain flour;
- sugar icing and confectionery with its use;
- sweet sweet pastries;
- dried fruits, berries, candied fruits;
- roasted nuts and coffee beans;
- chewing gum, dragees, sweets.
In recent years, it has been widely practiced to treat the surface of fresh fruits (apples, peaches, pears, melons, pineapples and citrus fruits) with various waxes to increase their shelf life. Processed fruits are recommended to be avoided whenever possible, not included in baby food, and not consumed unwashed or unpeeled.
Crystal wax in baked goods
The main contributor to the consumption of hydrogenated poly-1-decene is bakery products, since glazed sweets are not consumed in large quantities. Commercial bakeries wax the inside of their baking pans to make it easier to take out the finished bread. The content of crystalline wax in bakery products can vary from 300 to 500 mg per kg of product.
The maximum dose of safe consumption of the E907 supplement is 6 mg per 1 kilogram of body weight (but not more than 360 mg per capita) per day. If we assume that crystal wax is contained only in bread in the maximum allowable amount of 500 mg per kilogram, then a 60-kilogram person can eat no more than 720 g of such bread per day. However, it is assumed that no one will consume such an amount of flour per day.
It should be noted that the source of crystal wax is only yeast bread made from white or whole grain flour. Because unleavened and homemade breads do not contain hydrogenated poly-1-decene, you can greatly reduce your intake of E907 by purchasing yeast-free baked goods or baking them yourself.
Additive E907 and legislation
Crystalline wax is officially approved for use in the manufacture of food products under industrial conditions in the Russian Federation and Belarus. Due to the fact that the effect of the additive on the human body has not been studied, there is no information on the use of hydrogenated poly-1-decene in Ukraine, the European Union, the USA and Canada, despite the fact that the additive is included in the Codex Alimentarius and is considered conditionally safe.
Crystalline wax is included in the list of allowed SanPiN additives, modified and supplemented in 2008, as a glazing agent under the technical index E907. The additive is intended for industrial use only and is not sold at retail. For safety reasons, the daily intake of the substance per person should not exceed 360 mg.
In the composition of confectionery glaze and other coatings, the content of the glazing agent in an amount of up to 2000 mg per kg is possible. In yeast bakery products, the permissible concentration of the additive does not exceed 300-500 mg per kilogram of the product. In infant formulas and therapeutic diets, it is highly recommended to avoid foods treated with crystal wax.