A food supplement labeled E350 is nothing more than sodium malates, that is, sodium salts of malonic (or malic) acid. Sodium malates are used in the food sector as an excellent food acidity regulator.
According to its physical characteristics, food additive E350 is a crystalline tasteless powder of white color, which does not have a pronounced odor. Sodium malates are highly soluble in water, but completely insoluble in ethyl alcohol.
Obtaining and using a dietary supplement
The main sources of sodium salts of malic acid in the natural environment are raspberries, black chokeberries, and apples.
All these fruits contain malic acid, which is the most important intermediate product in the metabolism of the human body.
The food supplement E350 is obtained from DL-malic acids and ammonia. In this case, impurities such as maleic acid and fumarites dangerous to humans are formed. The chemical scientific designation for sodium malates is sodium salts of 2-hydroxybutanedioic acid.
The properties of the E350 antioxidant make it a water-retaining agent and acidity regulator in the food industry, capable of extending the shelf life of many products, but which, nevertheless, is practically not used in practice.
Theoretically, sodium malates are quite capable of replacing citrates as melting or buffer type salts, and sodium malates are much more suitable as calcium blockers than the same citrates, gluconates or tartrates.
Sodium malates as acidity regulators are used only in the manufacture of all kinds of jams, fruit preserves, citrus fruit marmalade and jelly.
This antioxidant is able to maintain the acid-base or pH balance of the above products at the level of 2,8-3,5.
Substance E350 can also be used in the production of cheeses, milk-based drinks, canned fish, dried fruits and vegetables, alcohol.
Impact on the human body
Despite the fact that sodium malates can now be used as a food additive in many countries, experts continue to study the effects of E350 on the human body for its destructive effects and negative health effects.
According to the latest scientific research and laboratory experiments, scientists classify sodium malate as a conditionally safe food supplement. However, there have been cases in the world when the E350 antioxidant negatively affected people’s health, as a result of which this supplement became banned in countries such as the USA, Canada, Ukraine and Russia.
The ability to harm the health of a living organism lies in the chemical composition of the compound, since fumarite and maleic acid released during the production of the E350 antioxidant are harmful to humans. However, according to the Codex Alimentarius or the international code of food standards, the use of the E350 antioxidant is allowed in some, strictly defined types of food.