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Propyl gallate is a substance produced artificially in laboratories. In the food and other industries, it is known under the code E310. This dietary supplement has strong antioxidant properties in foods and can also be used as a fragrance for cosmetic products. In general, its use does not cause particular controversy and objections, since in the process of studying propyl gallate, it did not show any properties that are particularly harmful to humans. However, it cannot be called absolutely safe – the use of the substance has some restrictions and contraindications that must be followed by both manufacturers and consumers.
Main properties and process for obtaining propyl gallate
Additive E310 in its chemical structure is an ester of gallic acid and propanol. And if it is propyl gallate that is not found anywhere in nature, then gallic acid, its original “material”, can be found in the structure of tannins and lignin, an element that denotes the stiff walls of plant cells.
The extracted substance has the form of a crystalline powder, consisting of very fine particles. The color is usually white, but a yellowish tint is allowed. The additive is odorless and leaves a bitter aftertaste on the tongue.
The substance is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in fats, but has good solubility in alcohols (ethyl, methyl and others). Melting point – from 150 degrees Celsius. Propyl gallate contains a water-soluble and a fat-soluble part of the molecule, so it is often used for fat emulsions. The substance is extracted chemically, in the process of esterification of gallic acid with propyl alcohol: as a result of the reaction, the alcohol releases esters from the acid.
Manufacturers appreciate the E310 additive as a powerful antioxidant that prevents product oxidation and thereby extends its shelf life.
Industrial applications
Several industries are the main “consumers” of the E310 additive, among them is the production of cosmetics. The antioxidant properties of propyl gallate (not for the skin, but for the product in which it is contained) make it one of the most commonly found ingredients in creams, lotions and other fat-containing emulsions.
The substance in the composition of cosmetic products protects them from rancidity.
To stabilize vegetable oils in products, from 0,03 to 0,21% of propyl gallate is used, and for essential oils – from 0,003 to 0,1% of the additive. An important condition for using E310 is the absence of traces of iron in the composition of the product, otherwise it will darken and acquire a greenish or bluish tint. An alternative for such cases is butylhydrohydroxyanisole or thiopropionates.
In the food production process, the E310 additive is used as an antioxidant in various products:
- mayonnaise;
- cooking oils for frying;
- sousah
- concentrated soups;
- dry culinary mixtures;
- chewing gum;
- seasonings;
- fast food breakfasts.
The substance has good resistance to high temperatures, so it is used in products that will later be subjected to thermal treatment.
In the chemical industry, propyl gallate is a component of lubricants, motor and technical oils, adhesives, impregnating agents for packaging for some food products, such as margarine or spread. It is also added to animal feed.
E310 and human health: how the supplement affects the body
The World Health Organization, after conducting numerous experiments and tests of the substance, classified propyl gallate as a moderately safe food additive. This means that the substance cannot cause significant harm, unless the average daily intake and some other precautionary requirements are exceeded. The maximum dosage allowed for an adult is 2,5 mg per 1 kilogram of body weight.
When ingested with food, the supplement is absorbed in the intestines, and gallic acid is mostly excreted by the kidneys as a methyl derivative.
In amounts exceeding the norm, propyl gallate causes asthma, urticaria and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. However, it will be extremely difficult for a person to eat such an amount of food that the dose of the supplement received with it would lead to such consequences. However, children, as owners of an organism that has not yet been formed, are not recommended to use products with the addition of E310. Accordingly, the substance cannot be used in baby food.
Another risk group is allergy sufferers, especially those sensitive to aspirin. For such people, propyl gallate can become a factor that provokes a rash, itching, in severe cases, swelling of the larynx and asthma attacks. E310 can have an effect on the body similar to that of the hormone estrogen.
There is information about a possible connection between the use of products with the addition of E310 and the development of malignant tumors, but it has not yet been confirmed by any official sources. There is also no data on the possible toxicity and mutagenicity of the substance. Propyl gallate does not bring any benefit to the human body.
Food additive E310 is approved for use in food in many countries: Canada, USA, Ukraine, Russia, countries of the European continent. Subject to the permitted dosage, the substance behaves quite friendly to humans, is not a toxin or carcinogen. On the part of state apparatuses and international organizations on health issues, strict control is exercised over compliance with the requirements for the amount of a substance in food. As for cosmetics, animal feed, various lubricants and adhesives, there are no serious restrictions on the presence of E310 in them.
Mayonnaises, dry confectionery mixes, fats, sauces with a fatty element – propyl gallate can be hidden in these products familiar to the consumer, and if buying food for an adult, you can not be afraid of it, then when choosing food for a child, it is better to refuse goods with the E310 code on the label .