Unfortunately, as it did not want to eat only natural products, entirely without any additives and preservatives do unlikely. A proportion of "chemistry" is present not only in the chips, which often frighten children, but also in juices and yogurt, and baked goods. And the use of these additional substances with the code E is legal in most countries.
European Council on Food Additives compiled classification table, which includes the most frequently used E. They come in several forms. Each has its own name, but in order to save space on the product packaging, it was decided to designate their digital codes. By itself, the letter E - is the first letter of the word Europe (according to other words edible- "edible"). The digital code can be of three or four digits ranging from 100. Each hundred - a certain kind of food additives.
For example:
E-100 - E-182 coloring
E-200 - E-280 Preservatives
E-300 - E-391 acidity regulators
E-400 - E-481 Various emulsifiers and thickeners
E-600 - E-637 flavor enhancer
E-900 - E-967 sweetening agents, defoamers, flour improvers.
Not all food additives E are equally dangerous and harmful. Among them are completely prohibited for use. For example, E-121 - citrus red dye, E-240 - formaldehyde, saccharin, E-954, E-951 aspartame.
There are questionable - to them in particular are partially permitted additives. For example, E-102 dye - Tartrazine - forbidden in Europe, Russia and resolved. This substance is added to a variety of sweets - ice cream, candy - and can cause allergies.
Or E-128 - red dye. He is often added to meat products, while genotoxic compound and can cause serious diseases, even cancer and abnormalities of fetal development. The cheaper sausages, the greater the likelihood that they contain the substance.
Fruits and vegetables are sure to thoroughly wash before eating, so as to prolong the storage in warehouses and stores them are treated with special preservatives - E-230, E-231, E-232. This phenol, which is potentially dangerous to the human body.
One of the reasons that food manufacturers use different E - is a cheaper product cost. As a rule, the less the product price, the more any additives therein. For example, flour significantly reduce the cost of bakery products, giving a decent and quite edible kind of products, baked from flour of the lowest grade.
The high content of "chemicals" also reports the bright colors, which is designed to cause the appetite of consumers. This is primarily carbonated drinks. In that way, besides dyes contain more and defoamers and many other supplements from different categories. Some experts claim that in the normal range, all these colors, sweeteners and flavor enhancers no harm to humans do not cause. But others believe the opposite. Namely, that the constant use of E-products contributes to the accumulation of these substances in the body, and in large numbers they already cause significant damage to health.
In addition to the frankly dangerous and suspicious of food additives, there are "malovrednye." These include, for example, sodium nitrate (E-251) and sodium nitrite (E-250), and potassium nitrate (E-252). These additives are in the sausage, and ham, and canned food, and even in the cheese and cheese. Meat products with their help impart attractive color, put in the cheese to prevent swelling.
For healthy adults, the amount of nitrite contained in the sausage is generally safe, provided that the permissible norms manufacturer and moderate consumption of the buyer. But if you suffer from liver, intestines, stomach, you should refrain from eating such foods. It is not recommended to feed their children, as under the influence of intestinal microflora, nitrates capable of being converted to nitrite, an excessive amount of which can cause very severe poisoning. For the same reason, it is desirable to give up sausages pregnant and lactating women.
The category is not very dangerous additives include E-620 - glutamic acid and E-621 - MSG. This flavor enhancers (bitter and salty) that are added to canned soups and concentrated most ready meals. There is a clear dose recommended consumption glutamates - 1, 5 g per day for an adult, 0, 5 grams a day - for a teenager. Babies this substance is contraindicated at all, and with it a variety of bouillon cubes, summer sausage and other goodies questionable.
Maximum security of the European Council recognizes a few supplements, although a total of more than three hundred in the table. To secure "eshkam" include, for example:
E-300 - ascorbic acid
E-270 - lactic acid
E-322 - lecithin
E-406 - Agar
E-200 - sorbic acid
E-100 - a colorant made of vegetable matter (curcumin)
E-412 - guar gum (solved even for baby food).
Assume no danger pectin (E-440) and gelatin (E-441).
Despite the fact that all food additives E subjected to special studies and experience to set the permissible dose use them for food, yet should choose foods with the lowest concentration of chemical derivatives.
It's enough to follow the simple principles: to limit consumption of convenience foods, smoked and canned goods; avoid foods with a long shelf life and unnaturally bright colors; give preference to fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish unrecycled. And try as much as possible to prepare meals instead of buying ready-made already soups, omelets, burgers and salads in the store.