A separate group among food additives is occupied by transparent and tasteless polysphate crystals, which are designated by the general marking E452. These substances are present in many foods, as they are powerful stabilizers, in addition, they are often used as thickeners.
However, are they as safe for he alth as buyers are assured?
Action E452
As it has already become clear, E 452 is a food supplement. Whether it is dangerous or not is a rather controversial issue, because in many countries its use is widely practiced, while in others it is strictly prohibited. To deal with this, you should find out what effect this stimulant has and what effect it has on the body.
It should be noted that due to its unique properties, this additive is widely used in many areas of activity. For example, in the industrial sector, E 452 is used to prevent the development of mold, and in metallurgy - to stop corrosion.
The additive has softening and degreasing properties, and therefore this substance can be seen in the list of components that make up detergents. In addition, this supplementused in the manufacture of various coatings with anti-corrosion properties in the paint industry.
Benefits and harms
According to the results of scientific research, substances of the E 452 group take an active part in almost all internal processes occurring in the human body at the cellular level. It's no secret that polyphosphates have a positive effect on blood clotting and are a source of essential nutrients. However, few people know that it is the E 452 supplement that stimulates the production of "bad" cholesterol. It is deposited on the walls of blood vessels, thereby “clogging” them.
Another disadvantage of E 452 is that this food supplement is very poorly excreted from the body. As a result of regular consumption of foods containing this stabilizer, a kind of “reserve” of phosphates is formed inside a person. They are not toxic and do not cause allergies, however, they are dangerous, as they are a carcinogen that leads to the formation of tumors.
Methods of obtaining
E 452 - food supplement. What exactly it is is described above. To fully appreciate its benefits and harms, you should also understand how it is mined. This stabilizer is obtained by heating sodium hydrogen phosphate to a temperature above 600 degrees. The output is a transparent or translucent powdery substance.
In fact, E 452 is a polymer of phosphoric acid. There are several types of polyphosphates with this marking. In general, inthis subgroup of food additives includes polyphosphates:
- potassium;
- calcium;
- potassium sodium;
- sodium;
- ammonium.
They all have unique properties. Quite often, the supplement is combined with other similar substances, such as citrates or phosphates.
Food industry applications
A few years ago, the harm of E 452 was greatly underestimated, and therefore this additive was widely used in the manufacture of various food products. It is currently banned in many states, with the exception of some EU countries, Russia and Ukraine.
Polyphosphates can be seen in many common products: condensed milk, processed cheese, canned fish and meat, some milk formulas. Also, this additive is present in most popular sausages and even coffee sticks. These are far from the only products in the manufacture of which E452 is used. No wonder, because this compound slows down chemical reactions, making products last longer and do not spoil.
Therefore, adherents of a he althy diet when buying goods in supermarkets and stores should pay attention to the presence of substance E 452 in the composition. It is highly likely that this additive can be seen in long-term storage products, sausages and sausages, cheeses, yogurts, kefir and milk, as well as some sweets.
If we talk about all the pros and cons of this food stabilizer,one can come to a single conclusion: the harm of E 452 far outweighs the benefits. In the course of numerous studies, it was found that this substance is dangerous for humans and its consumption threatens with negative he alth effects.
