Sodium pyrosulfite in products: how safe is it?

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Any person who is not indifferent to their own body probably knows that proper nutrition and the use of products useful to the body are one of the main conditions for maintaining he alth. When purchasing food and beverages in stores, you should carefully examine the labels on the packaging, both for observance of the expiration date and for the presence of non-natural chemicals in the composition. Such additives are usually marked with the code "E".

It should be noted right away that the “E” on the package does not always mean the presence of a substance that is harmful to the human body. So, for example, the code E330 hides the usual citric acid - one of the most harmless and natural preservatives.

However, the use of the substance in question is neither harmless nor natural. Sodium pyrosulfite is a food preservative and antioxidant actively used by domestic and many foreign manufacturers.

What is it and how is it labeled on the packaging?

In appearance, the chemical substance with the trade name sodium pyrosulphite appears as a powder, white or yellowish andcrystalline form. This compound is produced from sodium carbonate, known to most as soda ash. By itself, this product does not cause concern, and it can have a harmful effect only under the condition of an overdose. Another derivative of sodium carbonate, baking soda, is generally actively used in everyday life as the safest remedy.

But to obtain sodium pyrosulfite, soda interacts in the factory with sulfur dioxide, a gaseous substance with many disadvantages in terms of impact on the human body. Hence the numerous disputes about the advisability of using sodium pyrosulfite in food production.

In general, the use of this dietary supplement is not prohibited by law. However, the manufacturer is required to indicate the presence of this compound in the product. So when buying a particular product, the buyer is given the right to study the composition of the product and decide: to buy or not to buy? Designated sodium pyrosulfite - E223.

What is this nutritional supplement used for in production?

The logical question is: if a product is causing so much controversy, why even use it? The answer is rather prosaic: it is beneficial for the producers themselves.

Sodium pyrosulfite is an excellent preservative that significantly increases the shelf life of the product. It is also an antioxidant, baking powder, bleach and, not least, a color fixative.

What foods can contain E223?

List of products that are completely legalsodium pyrosulfite is used, impressive. The most common ones are:

• Sausages.
• Dried, pickled or frozen vegetables and mushrooms, as well as everything that is made from them. For example, in the frozen semi-finished product “French fries”, the food additive is not only a preservative, but also preserves the attractive white color of the product.
• Starches and starch products, including most chips. There is an exception here: E223 is not allowed in baby food products.
• Frozen or processed berries and fruits, including juices, jellies, jams, preserves, syrups, etc.
• Confectionery, sweets, marmalade, gelatin.
• Alcoholic drinks (wine and beer) and soft drinks (lemonades, non-alcoholic wines, etc.).
• Boiled shrimp and other cephalopods.

Of course, the list is not complete. Moreover, the substance is used not only in food, but also in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

How bad is E223 for the human body?

As already mentioned, sodium pyrosulfite is obtained by exposure to sulfur dioxide - a substance that destroys vitamin B1 when it enters the body. Nutritionists do not call B1 or theanine the "vitamin of harmony" for nothing - it is actively involved in the metabolic process, in addition, thiamine supports the digestive tract, nervous system and heart.

E223 is also highly toxic. In addition, there is a high probability of malfunctions and the occurrence of diseases.gastrointestinal tract. Excessive consumption of sodium pyrosulfate can lead to eye diseases.

It is especially worth noting the high likelihood of an allergic reaction caused by products containing sodium pyrosulfite. The harm that this chemical can cause is dangerous to underestimate. Especially when it comes to a child's body.

It can be argued that the legislation of Russia, the European Union, Belarus and other countries does not prohibit the use of E223, and, therefore, the product does not pose a serious danger. It should be noted here that there are many countries in which sodium pyrosulfite has been banned. The final conclusions about the use of products with E223, of course, will have to be made by the consumer.