Studying the composition of food products, you can find many unknown frightening names, as well as alphanumeric designations. To buy a quality and safe product, the buyer has to be a little chemist. What is acetylated dicrachmaladipate? Is it dangerous to humans?
What it is
Acetylated Dicrachmaladipate (E1422) is a food supplement that is better known as modified starch. In fact, this is ordinary potato or corn starch, the properties of which were changed through chemical processing.
To obtain E1422, an aqueous suspension of starch is treated with anhydrides (acetic and adipic). As a result, individual molecules are “stitched” together, due to which the resulting substance acquires the following properties:
- thickens liquids better;
- becomes more resistant to high temperatures, acids, mechanical stress;
- in solution becomes more transparent;
- acquires a neutral taste.
General characteristics of the substance
Acetylated dicrachmaladipate (or food supplement E1422) has the following basic properties:
- White color. Suppose a slight yellowish tint.
- Texture - powder, granules or flakes.
- Smell - absent or weak with vinegar.
- Taste is absent.
- Solubility - it is well dissolved in hot water, forming a paste. It dissolves poorly in cold water. It does not dissolve in alcohol and organic liquids.
- Resistance - to cut, retrograde, mechanical stress, freezing and thawing, weak acid-base environment, heat treatment.
During prolonged storage without violating the conditions recommended by the manufacturer, the substance in question does not lose its properties.
Application in the food industry
Acetylated dicrachmaladipate is actively used in the food industry. The additive is used for the production of food products that are subjected to intense mechanical stress or heat treatment. This substance has several functions at once. This is a thickener, and a stabilizer, and a gelling agent, and a binder. Since E1422 tolerates freeze / thaw cycles, this additive can significantly extend the shelf life of frozen and chilled products.
Most often, this additive can be found in the composition of such products:
- mayonnaise and other sauces;
- dairy products;
- ketchups;
- meat and fish semi-finished products;
- sausages;
- vegetable, fruit and mushroom preservation;
- instant soups;
- breakfast cereals;
- instant cereals;
- fruit fillers for baking;
- baby food;
- ice cream;
- processed cheeses and so on.
It is necessary to be especially careful with sausages, which include E1422. This substance is often used in order to mask the unsightly taste and appearance of low-quality minced meat.
Other applications
Not only in the food industry is the stabilizer dicrachaladipate acetylated used. This substance has also found its application in the following areas:
- production of drilling fluids for the oil and gas industry;
- to combat the oxidation and corrosion of metal tools.
Benefit or harm?
At the moment, little is known about the benefits and harms of acetylated dicrachaladipate. The fact is that this is a relatively new food supplement, the effect of which on the human body has not yet been thoroughly studied. Therefore, many experts prefer to call this substance conditionally safe.
In most countries, E1422 is an approved food supplement. But for example, in the USA it is not included in the list of safe ones. There are scattered opinions about the dangers of acetylated dicrachaladipate. In particular, some experts claim that the substance can cause disturbances in the pancreas and even provoke the development of pancreatic necrosis.
It is worth noting that this additive is digested by the body much worse than ordinary starch, and during processing polysaccharides are formed in the stomach. Thus, with excessive intake of E1422, indigestion, nausea and diarrhea can occur.
Also worrying is the fact that some manufacturers "forget" to indicate in the composition of E1422. This is especially true for dairy products and baby food. So you should not be too careless, because there is no one hundred percent guarantee on the safety of the thickener. Therefore, try to limit your intake of foods that contain this and other synthetic additives.
Are norms established?
There are no restrictions on the use of thickener in domestic standards. Acetylated dicrachmaladipate in the Russian Federation is recognized as absolutely safe for use in food products up to baby food. The standards are set only for the introduction of E1422 in children's products (no more than 50 g / kg). A similar situation is observed in most countries of the world where the use of this supplement is not controlled in any way.
The use of thickener E1422 is regulated by SanPiN 2.3.2.1293-03 of 05.26.2008.
Conclusion
All kinds of additives with the prefix "E" is an unfortunate reality of the modern food industry. Acetylated dicrachmaladipate is used in a variety of products that are on our table daily. In small amounts, this supplement is relatively safe. But unscrupulous manufacturers may abuse this substance. Therefore, trust only trusted companies.