2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
When buying food in supermarkets, each of us pays attention to the fact that most products contain many substances that begin with the letter "E". This is
additives, without which the food industry cannot work now. One of the most common is E211 - a preservative. To increase the shelf life of products, all manufacturers add it. Sometimes this name is replaced by the words "sodium benzoate".
What is this preservative
This is a s alt of benzoic acid, which is obtained by reacting it with caustic soda. It was created for the first time at the end of the 19th century. Scientists were looking for a replacement for salicylic acid, which was widely available at the time but was expensive to produce. Sodium benzoate turned out to be readily available and inexpensive, so it began to be used in industry. Then it turned out that in small quantities it is found in cranberries, apples, cinnamon, cloves andprunes. Considered safe, they started using it in food production.
E211 (preservative) is a white powder that quickly dissolves in water. In this form, it is easy to introduce it into any products. The powder has a slight sweetish taste and almost no smell. So his and
added during the production of food, because its taste and aroma does not change from this. But on the other hand, a very important quality for trade is acquired - a long shelf life. This is a very stable substance - it does not break down when boiled.
Benzoic acid itself is also a preservative and is marked with the letters E210. When interacting with potassium, calcium and sodium, s alts are formed from it, which are also used to increase the shelf life of products. These are food additives E212 and E213. They are used much less often.
Why is this substance so commonly used
E211 - a preservative that inhibits the vital activity of mold bacteria and yeasts. It has antibiotic properties and inhibits the ability of cells to produce enzymes. Because of this, microbes die, and bacteria do not multiply. But in this and
is the harm of E211 - because it inhibits the activity of cells and their ability to break down fats and starch. So it acts not only on bacteria and microbes, but also on all cells of the body.
But food manufacturers use E211 (preservative) very often. It not only allows you to preserve sauces, preserves andconfectionery, but also improves the taste of stale and spoiled food. Therefore, it is often used in the production of semi-finished products.
Where sodium benzoate is used
This preservative is used in the food industry, pharmacology, cosmetics and perfumery. It helps create a loud sound when firing firecrackers, and is also used to prevent molding of tobacco in cigarettes and to protect aluminum parts in industry.
Additive E211 can be found in shampoos, toothpastes and shower gels. But especially a lot of it in food: all canned food, preserves, sausages, sauces, confectionery and sweets, as well as carbonated drinks necessarily contain sodium benzoate. You need to know what this preservative is, because it is even added to baby food and cough syrups. It prevents food spoilage and is used as a color enhancer.
Which foods contain E211
The following products contain the described preservative:
- cheeses, sausages and meat products;
- fish caviar, canned food and preserves, shrimps and s alted fish;
- jams, marmalade, jelly and other semi-finished fruit and berry products;
- all non-alcoholic drinks or with an alcohol content of less than 15%;
- mayonnaise, margarine, ketchups, sauces;
- spices and seasonings, mustard;
- pickled or s alted vegetables;
- confectionery and sweets;
- all prepared salads;
- milk-based desserts;
- chewinggum and filled chocolate;
- diet food and products for weight loss.
Is this supplement harmful
In most states, this preservative is banned for use in the food industry. But in Russia and in some other countries it is actively used without warning the population about the dangers of eating it. The World He alth Organization recognized its harmlessness only in acceptable quantities. But she noted that allergic reactions and genotoxicity are possible even from such minimal use. Due to the fact that in recent years people have become interested in their he alth and are talking more and more about the harm that E211 brings, its production is gradually reduced. But still, it is still included in a large number of products on the shelves of our stores.
Sodium benzoate: effects on the human body
This substance has the same effect on human cells as it does on microbial cells: it inhibits redox processes, especially the breakdown of fats and starch. This causes hives or other allergic reactions, as well as exacerbation of chronic diseases. Sodium benzoate can also cause neurodegenerative diseases, as well as Parkinson's disease or even cirrhosis of the liver.
The acceptable dose of safe use is 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. But this substance can accumulate in the body. And its high concentration in the most common foods leads to the fact that even children consume largeamounts of sodium benzoate. Its effect on the human body is also harmful in that it damages an important part of DNA. This part provides the cell with energy. Due to the influence of this substance, it malfunctions.
Use E211 along with ascorbic acid
Sodium benzoate is especially harmful when combined with some other additives. Often it is used together with ascorbic acid - E300. Reacting with it, sodium benzoate forms benzene. This substance, entering the body, causes cancer. Its release intensifies in the presence of citric acid and at high temperature.
When the dose of benzene consumption is exceeded, a person feels nausea and dizziness, and other symptoms of intoxication appear. And in the case of the constant use of these nutritional supplements together, it accumulates in the body and causes cancer. It is believed that benzene has a particularly strong effect on the blood. It causes a lack of hemoglobin - anemia and leukemia - blood cancer.
Combining sodium benzoate with other supplements
It is very rare that nutritional supplements are consumed separately. Usually, several preservatives, dyes and other substances are added to the products. Often they interact with each other or enhance the effect of some substances. For example, sodium benzoate is often added to dairy products along with potassium sorbate, because this inhibits lactic acid bacteria more strongly. And in combination with lactic acid, the preservative effect of E211 is enhanced.
Sodium benzoate: effect on the child's body
Modern children consume foods containing this preservative in large quantities. In addition, they include many other additives. The UK Food Standards Agency conducted a study in 2007 on the effect of sodium benzoate on hyperactivity in children. Combining this preservative with certain dyes such as yellow, red or tartrazine causes a
disturbances in the behavior of the child.
It is believed to cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. Of course, this is not the main reason for such behavioral disorders, but Professor Jim Stevenson advised parents to remove foods containing E211 (a preservative) and various dyes from the child's diet. Many food companies are looking for an alternative replacement for sodium benzoate and intend to phase it out soon.
Preservative E211 in cosmetics
Benzene enters the human body not only with food. Its penetration through the skin and respiratory organs is very harmful. In addition to the fact that we breathe it in a lot with the air, most cosmetics also contain E211 (a preservative). The harm done to them after penetration through the skin has been proven by many scientists. After all, along with the fact that he
suppresses the vital activity of harmful microorganisms and increases the shelf life of cosmetics, it is able to kill beneficial bacteria that ensure skin he alth. It can cause allergies and cancer. In addition, the relationship has been provenuse of sodium benzoate with rapid aging.
Whether to use products and cosmetics containing E211 is up to everyone. But the fact that many countries of the world have already abandoned its use, and the rest are looking for an alternative replacement for it and reducing its release, speaks of the harmfulness of this substance to humans. And if you don't feel worse after eating products containing sodium benzoate, that doesn't mean it's safe. Accumulating in your body, this substance gradually destroys cells. This is especially harmful to women and children, as it causes gene mutations.
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