Preservative E200 - what is it? This question is often asked by those who find a named supplement on the product packaging. Today we will talk about what such a preservative is and how it affects the human body.
General information
Preservative E200 is a common sorbic acid. It belongs to the group of food additives and is allowed in the EU, Ukraine and Russia. According to experts, such a preservative is absolutely safe for humans.
Characteristic
Preservative E200 is a natural organic compound. According to its physical properties, sorbic acid is a solid substance that is slightly soluble in water and has no color. This additive was isolated in 1859 by distillation of mountain ash oil. Its properties were discovered by experts at the very beginning of the last century. Then sorbic acid was produced on a large scale and used as an inhibitor of the causative agent of botulism in meat products, in order to significantly reduce the amount of nitrites that form carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Additive Features
Preservative E200 has the ability to protect products from mold. It is this property that has become the reason that the presented additive is very often used in the production of various food products.
Sorbic acid is able to inhibit the development of yeast cells, some bacteria and molds by blocking enzymes. Such a preservative does not destroy microbes, but only slows down their development. In this regard, it is added only to raw materials not contaminated with microorganisms, although some bacteria still have a unique ability to assimilate and break down sorbic acid.
Application
E200 is a preservative (its harm was never identified by experts), added to the huge list of food products. It should be specially noted that sorbic acid can be used individually or together with other additives. This substance is included in the list of a large amount of raw materials for TU and GOST for such products as juices, canned milk, margarine, sauces, various cheeses, mayonnaises, dried fruits, wines, olives, jams, preserves, fish, soft drinks, dumplings fillings, egg products, chocolate with fillings and sweets, pastes, bakery products, etc.
During the kneading test, sorbic acid practically does not dissolve and does not inhibit the development of yeast. But after heat treatment, it begins to exhibit anti-mold properties.
Thanks to this supplement, the shelf life of most juices is increased to 27-30 days. Due to the fact that sorbic acid is very poorly soluble in water, in the production of soft drinks, experts advise not using the preservative itself, but its aqueous solution, that is, sodium sorbate. By the way, for these purposes , potassium sorbate is also quite often used , which is more stable during storage.
In addition to the food industry, sorbic acid has found its application in both the tobacco and cosmetic sectors.
By the way, in some cases, the presented additive is replaced by the preservative E211. This is sodium benzoate, which ensures the freshness of products, inhibits the development of fungi, yeast cells and some types of bacteria. In its natural form, it can be found in apples, raisins and cranberries, as well as in spices (cinnamon, cloves).
Effect on the body
How do preservatives E200, E211 affect the human body?
- Sorbic acid is one of the most widely used additives in the food industry. It does not pose a danger to the human body and even has a positive effect on it, as it is able to increase immunity and remove toxins. However, with a large amount of preservative E200 can cause irritation of the skin.
Among the negative properties of this supplement, we can distinguish that it destroys cyanocobalamin in the body (i.e., vitamin B12). Its deficiency, as you know, contributes to neurological disorders and even death of nerve cells.
It should also be noted that the presented food supplement is easily digested, it is not toxic, does not exhibit antiseptic properties and is not a carcinogen.
- Preservative E211 (sodium benzoate) is allowed in many countries for food production. It negatively affects the body, as it causes the development of cancerous tumors and provokes allergic reactions. Avoid contact with the eyes and respiratory system. By the way, benzene enters the human body not only with food, but also with a polluted atmosphere, as well as tobacco smoke.