Contents
Food additive E150 is a derivative of burnt sucrose (C12H22O11). To get caramel at home, water and sugar are used. For industrial use, sugar color is synthesized from fructose, sucrose, and can also be made from glucose and malt syrup.
Chemical structure of the additive
Additive E150 is a heteropolymer pigment. May have a different structure:
Granules
Syrup
Powder
liquid substance
The tint range is also diverse, the color scheme can be either light yellow, almost transparent, or rich brown (chocolate) color. The food additive has a high degree of resistance to thermal effects, light and acidic environments.
Industrial applications
The largest area of application of sugar color is the food industry. This industry accounts for up to 80 percent of the total product. The highest concentration of E150 is found in a number of products:
Bakery and confectionery products.
Dairy and dairy products.
Alcoholic goods – whiskey, cognac, liqueurs, beer.
Non-alcoholic drinks – lemonade, Coca-Cola, Pepsi.
Dry food for animals.
Sausages, canned food, sausages.
Use in alcoholic products
Contrary to an erroneous opinion, the E150a additive is not used in the production of alcoholic beverages to make them sweet.
It is used in scanty amounts solely to ensure that the color of the drink remains the same from batch to batch. Most often, E150a is used in the production of whiskey, as well as cognac, brandy and rum.
The use of E150a is not a criterion for assessing the quality of a drink, as it only affects its color.
Color types by groups
Depending on the characteristics of production, the food additive is divided into groups:
1st category (150a) – a simple color scheme, it does not contain impurities and additional components (typical homemade caramel made from burnt sugar and water).
2nd category (150b) – production is carried out using alkaline-sulfate technology.
3rd category (150s) – to obtain a substance of this type, ammonia production technology is used.
4th category (150d) – a product of ammonia-sulfate technology.
The benefits and harms of color
According to GOST, food additive E150 and all its subgroups are acceptable for use in food both in the domestic and industrial sectors. A key factor in determining the safety of sugar color is the quantitative content of the substance in the product.
Despite the fact that the additive itself is considered harmless and is used all over the world, there are certain features of its operation. So, the addition of lactose or other components to the composition of caramel can cause allergic reactions. And the daily rate of sugar color should not exceed 160-200 mg per kg of body weight.
In the United States and Canada, food and alcohol manufacturers are required to list the amount of the 150d additive, if present in the formulation.
Caramel is one of the oldest and most popular dyes in the world. There are a large number of myths that the product is carcinogenic, capable of causing malignant tumors and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. However, no facts confirming or pointing to this were recorded.
At the moment, sugar color is an additive that can be eaten by both adults and children.
Relevance: 29.06.2018
Tags: Encyclopedia