The presence of E-additives in almost all types of food products today will not surprise anyone. The list of these substances is so diverse that it is quite difficult for the buyer to understand what substance is actually hiding behind this or that letter with numbers. Here, for example, E106, consider what kind of substance it is and why it is contained in food.
General characteristics
Before starting a conversation about E106, it is worth mentioning that in the system of food additives, all substances marked with the letter E and an index from 100 to 199 are dyes. That is, further we will talk about him.
The chemical name for the supplement is riboflavin-5′-phosphate sodium salt. It is a yellow powder that has good solubility in water but is poorly soluble in alcohol. In the food industry, it is used as a synthetic dye that gives food a yellow color. But the use of this dye is not limited to the food industry alone; E106 is used in pharmacology, as well as in the production of various non-food products.
Considering the fact that E106, with its biochemical properties, is very similar to another group dye, E101a, some manufacturers label riboflavin-5′-phosphate as E101b or E101 (ii).
Useful and dangerous properties of the additive
Since riboflavin-5′-phosphate contains vitamin B2 (riboflavin), many consider it as beneficial to the body as the vitamin itself. And that, by the way, improves the functioning of the thyroid gland, the condition of hair, skin and nails, is responsible for the production of enzymes and oxygen metabolism in the body. However, the benefits of the synthetic counterpart are not as pronounced as those of natural riboflavin. Therefore, the E106 dye should not be considered as a source of vitamin B2, especially when it is deficient in the body.
Despite the fact that E106 is credited to supplements with a low level of toxicity, riboflavin-5′-phosphate is still banned in some countries of the world. In Russia, E106 is also not mentioned in the list of approved products.
The results of numerous scientific experiments indicate the existence of a danger with excessive use of the E106 composition. In particular, it was found that the abuse of products “enriched” with this additive can cause kidney dysfunction. The dye can also be harmful to the eyes, in particular, cause visual impairment, up to complete blindness. In addition to the dangers already mentioned, E106 causes malaise and a severe allergic reaction in some people, which is not so easy to get rid of.
Where is contained
E106 is found in many yellow foods. The additive is used for coloring various types of dairy products, confectionery, jams. In countries where this dye is not prohibited, it is even added to baby food.
Food coloring E106 is an additive with a very controversial reputation. Despite the fact that it has some similarities with vitamin B2, it still ended up on the banned list. This substance should not be contained in domestic products. But still, it is better to play it safe and carefully read the list of ingredients before buying (especially if it is an imported product).
- Sources of
- Smirnov, E.V. Food colorings: a reference book / E.V. Smirnov. – St. Petersburg: Profession, 2009. – 352 p.