A separate place in the list of common food additives is additive E476. In chocolate and other confectionery products, it is often used as an emulsifier to replace natural E322 lecithin. The main purpose of this substance is to "make" chocolate flow correctly on the filling.
Properties E476
Chocolate with the addition of cocoa bean oil boasts a high fat content, which cannot be said for confectionery products that use a small amount of this expensive oil or not at all. In the first case, chocolate melts easily, which allows it to spread evenly, which is necessary in the manufacture of chocolates with various fillings.
To achieve this effect, without adding expensive cocoa butter to the confectionery, use its budget substitute E476. In chocolate, this supplement is especially popular, but is it safe? A moot point.
Production methods
Food supplement E476 (in chocolate may be referred to as “polyglycerol emulsifier”) is extracted from castor oil seeds and castor oil. By themselves, these components are safe for health, however, recently polyglycerol began to be produced artificially through the processing of genetically modified organisms.
Products found
Most E476 - in chocolate. It’s rather difficult to answer unanimously that it is harm or benefit, because the opinions of experts on this subject are divided. Some call this component completely safe, which is confirmed by numerous studies, while others vote for its prohibition in view of the negative impact on health.
This supplement can be found not only in chocolate, although it is in this product that it is most often found. Currently, with the addition of this substance, various popular sauces are made, for example, ketchup and mayonnaise. In addition, this "eshka" is contained in ready-made gravy and liquid soups, sold in vacuum packaging.
The presence of E476 in chocolate, the effect on the body of which is assessed as “neutral,” also does not in any way affect the taste of the product. This food supplement also has no smell, and it is because of these properties that its scope is so wide.
Other names
Sometimes food manufacturers do not indicate on the packaging of their goods data starting with the scary letter “E”. However, they do not have the right to hide information about the contents, therefore often emulsifiers, flavors, colorants and various flavor enhancers are indicated by other, less well-known names. For example, E 476 may also be indicated on the packaging of the goods, as:
- polyglycerol;
- animal lecithin;
- polyglycerol ether;
- soya lecithin;
- polyricinoleate;
- Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate;
- Polyricinoleate.
Application
As mentioned above, soy lecithin E476 in chocolate is necessary in order for it to “melt” correctly and flow around the filling. However, this process has one more side - the more fat in chocolate, the better it melts. But is always a lot of fat good?
Many manufacturers of confectionery do not hide the fact that they use this emulsifier and even vice versa focus on this. In their opinion, the harmful effects of vegetable fat on the body can be avoided only by eliminating it and replacing it with soya lecithin. E476 in chocolate is just this very substitute, which is presented as a substance useful to humans.
Despite this, unconfirmed reports that this substance is hazardous to health regularly appear on the Internet. For example, information is indicated according to which, due to the high content of E476 in chocolate and its frequent use in experimental animals, the liver and kidneys increased. However, there is no official evidence of harm to E476 to date.
Countries where supplementation is permitted
Supplement E476 passed independent medical testing, which showed that it does not harm human health. In this regard, in most countries, this substance is approved for use. Including EU countries, Russia and Ukraine. The same goes for the UK, where the chocolate emulsifier E476 has been tested by a reputable FSA agency that monitors state food standards.
Manufacturers opinion
Most food manufacturers claim to use E476 for the health of consumers. These include world-famous Nestle and Hershey companies. That is why the additive E476 can often be seen in baby food. Thus, manufacturers want to eliminate the harm of vegetable fat to the body, although adherents of a healthy lifestyle claim that this is done in order to save.
Beneficial features
The positive qualities of E476 include the fact that due to the ease of preparation, it is considered a rather “cheap” supplement and all products using this emulsifier are considered to be budget ones.
As for the shortcomings, as such, they were not found, however, opponents of everything unnatural still avoid using products with this supplement. The fact is that earlier exclusively vegetable components were used to obtain E476 - castor oil seeds and castor oil. When the mass use of this substance in the production of various products began, genetically modified plants began to be grown for its synthesis.
Harm E476
In the course of scientific research, it was possible to establish that this supplement has a negative effect on metabolic processes in the human body. In addition, products in which this element is present can lead to disruption of the digestive processes.
In this regard, the use of chocolate products with E476 in the composition should be abandoned to people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, it is better to give preference to goods using a natural substitute for polyglycerol - E322 lecithin.
E322
The main natural sources of E322 lecithin are some vegetables and fruits, eggs, liver and peanuts. As for the production of this substance on an industrial scale, in this case waste from castor oil and soy products is used.
E322 has antioxidant and surface-active properties, and therefore is often used in the manufacture of food products as an emulsifier. When used in a reasonable amount, lecithin is not only not harmful, but even beneficial to the body.
Not surprising, because this substance is present in almost all cells of the human body and is necessary for their renewal and restoration. Lecithin also has a positive effect on the functioning of the brain and is responsible for the normal functioning of the nervous system.
With a lack of this substance in the body, poor absorption of various drugs can be observed. In addition, lecithin inhibits the formation of various toxic compounds, which can lead to serious disorders and health problems.
Lecithin is contraindicated in people with intolerance to this component, as well as those who are prone to allergies. In food products E322 is most often found in chocolate, bakery products and sour-milk products, however, it is worth remembering that it is necessary to consume all these products in reasonable quantities, not exceeding the recommended daily allowances.