The global market for food additives is projected to reach at least $140 billion in 2024, and experts expect it to double in the coming years. Which additives are safe for consumption, and which ones could pose health risks?
Grounds for Prejudice
Food additives are substances added to products to give them desired properties such as flavor, color, taste, and texture. These include colorants, flavorings, taste enhancers, sweeteners, leavening agents, thickeners, antioxidants, film-forming agents, foam stabilizers, moisture retainers, fillers, preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and more. Contrary to the common beliefs held by proponents of “natural food” regarding the harmfulness of such additives, this is not necessarily the case: salt and pepper, in a sense, are also food additives.
This is not a new invention, although the variety and popularity of food additives have increased with the rise of the processed food market over the last 200 years. Since the 19th and 20th centuries, countries have regulated the use of food additives, allowing or prohibiting certain substances. For instance, boric acid was widely used as a food preservative during both World Wars but was banned afterward due to its toxicity (first temporarily from the 1920s, then permanently from the 1950s). One can imagine the scale of poisoning caused by a dangerous food additive that had been used to extend the shelf life of products since the 1870s.
Such incidents have fostered widespread distrust of food additives and created a bias against “chemicals” (chemophobia). Since the 1960s, the safety of food additives has been scrutinized through numerous toxicological assessments before they receive the legislative “green light.” In the European Union, the approval process for a new food additive can take decades. Permits are issued with a significant safety margin. A permissible limit for a substance is established based on body weight. For monosodium glutamate, for example, this limit is up to 120 mg/kg, for aspartame – up to 40 mg/kg, and for sodium nitrite – up to 0.2 mg/kg.
As analytical methods improve, government regulations regarding the content of food additives are revised, and substances previously deemed harmless are recognized as dangerous and banned. Examples include formaldehyde E240 in chocolate bars and E121 in soft drinks. Because food additives are justifiably suspected of being linked to cancer, allergies, asthma, and other health issues that have become more prevalent today, manufacturers often replace the letter E code in ingredient lists with the name of the additive – simply stating “monosodium glutamate,” for instance.
However, allergic reactions are individual, so even seemingly harmless natural additives can be deemed harmful. There are instances where a substance naturally found in a product is declared a carcinogen: for example, in the U.S., flavoring beer with safrole – a plant component of sweet basil – is prohibited. Each country has its own list of banned additives, while international standards are set by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the World Health Organization. Codex Alimentarius standards must be adhered to by countries that are members of the World Trade Organization.
What Lies Behind the “E”
There’s no need to fear a letter – it’s simply a classifier. Pay attention to the number.
Beneficial Food Additives
Let’s start with the most favorable numbers and their meanings.
E100 (curcumin) – helps control weight.
E101 (vitamin B2 or riboflavin) – supports metabolism and hemoglobin synthesis.
E160d (lycopene) – strengthens the immune system.
E270 (lactic acid) – has antioxidant properties.
E300 (vitamin C or ascorbic acid) – boosts immunity.
E440 (pectin) – cleanses the intestines and removes toxins.
E916 (calcium iodate) – enriches food products with iodine.
Neutral Food Additives
The next category includes harmless additives.
E140 (chlorophyll) – a pigment responsible for the green color of plants.
E162 (betanin) – a red pigment from food beets.
E170 (calcium carbonate) – a salt of carbonic acid and calcium.
E202 (potassium sorbate) – a natural preservative.
E290 (carbon dioxide) – a substance that carbonates beverages.
E500 (sodium bicarbonate) – baking soda.
E913 (lanolin) – a foaming agent in confectionery products.
Harmful Food Additives
These components can pose a threat in the presence of certain chronic conditions.
Allergy sufferers should avoid products containing E131, E132, E160b, E210, E214, E217, E230, E231, E232, E239, E311, E312, E313, E951.
Asthma sufferers may be affected by products containing E102, E107, E122, E123, E124, E155, E211, E212, E213, E214, E217, E221…E227 – these components can trigger an asthma attack.
For thyroid conditions, it’s advisable to avoid products with E127.
A high cholesterol level is a contraindication for consuming products with E320.
A sensitivity to aspirin is a contraindication for products with E107, E110, E121… E124, E155, E214, E217.
Skin conditions are a contraindication for E320…E332.
Liver and kidney diseases are contraindications for E171…E173, E220, E302, E320…E332, E510, E518.
Dangerous Food Additives
In several countries, substances that pose potential health risks are banned. These additives belong to a group that may be permitted for use in our country.
E123 (amaranth) – can cause calcium buildup in the kidneys and lead to developmental defects in fetuses.
E211 (sodium benzoate) – a potential carcinogen.
E220 (sulfur dioxide) – irritates the intestines: a quarter of people cannot tolerate sulfur.
E249 (potassium nitrite) – a potential carcinogen banned in baby food.
E322 (lecithin) – in food additives, it is a genetically modified phospholipid from transgenic soy.
E450 (pyrophosphate) – the cumulative effect of this additive found in dairy products can lead to osteoporosis (weakening of bone tissue) and kidney stones.
E621 (monosodium glutamate) – an additive used in meat products that can cause food addiction and affect brain cells. It is banned for consumption by children, teenagers, and pregnant women.
E622 (potassium glutamate) – the most common component in fast food can cause weakness, nausea, cramps, or diarrhea.
E951 (aspartame) – a food additive in soft drinks and sugar substitutes that impairs brain function, causes headaches, and triggers skin rashes.
E952 (cyclamate) – a substance that is 200 times sweeter than sugar, banned in several countries due to its carcinogenic properties.
It’s essential to carefully examine ingredient lists and avoid foods with a long list of additives. The fewer we consume, the healthier we will be.