Ever thought of what exactly does E-numbers represent, when we have a glance at the list of ingredients used in that specific product, maybe Lays? Let discuss in detail.
Introduction:
E-numbers, also commonly known as “European Numbers,” is a labelling action introduced by the “European Food Safety Authority,” (EFSA) in the early 1970s to mark a specific product as safe for consumption; it generally replaces the name of a preservative, additive, or chemical name.
A large number of consumers often get worried about whether the ingredients used in the product might not have adverse effects on health, so the EU setup the said organization to satisfy the consumers.
There are a total of 27 countries within the EU till date, with the inclusion of Germany, Denmark, Italy, and Spain.
Single Benefit to Manufacturer:
If you're a manufacturer, the single biggest benefit of having EFSA label at the back of your product packet might actually increase your sales; as consumers are now becoming more detail-oriented, they will definitely choose products that are health-friendly.
Various examples:
According to researches carried out by chemical experts, there are certain categories for which E-numbers are normally there. The following numbers are found within European borders. Apart from this, there is a country in which ‘E’ is omitted and only number is written, and that’s none other than Australia.
An edible high in antioxidants are meant to be healthy when consumed; fruits and vegetables are the main types of consumptions that contain antioxidants.
The E-number associated with the said ones generally lie between 300 and 399; if the maker is selling tomato sauce, this signals that the product contains Vitamin C, which is a type of antioxidant. Therefore, if there’s E-321, or maybe E-456 written, you should be aware of the fact that the said range contains Vitamin C.
Preservatives
Similarly, let’s talk about preservatives. For those of you who might not know what preservatives are, they are special substances that minimizes microorganisms' growth and prevents the product from decaying, which makes it futile. Beverages, processed foods, paint boxes, body sprays, and even medications contain preservatives. The E-number for the said chemical ranges from 200 till 299. For instance, you head over to the supermarket to buy a frozen packet of meat, you might see E-298, or maybe E-253 labelled, or you are in need of a Coca-Cola, you will visualize various numbers, E-222 or E-278, E-277 or E-230; there’s nothing to be frighten about.
Likewise, let’s talk about sweeteners; like cookies, ice-creams, pancakes, and birthday cakes cannot be prepared without sugar, given that a high intake of sugar increases blood sugar levels, so what to do now?
Thus, a vast number of confectionaries are actively investing in sweeteners and softness of the product; sucralose and fructose syrup are commonly use worldwide to replace harmful sugar. The E-number for the said category varies from 700-999, limiting to European customers.
The above information could be use by an individual to better select a product according to your health.
Conclusively, E-numbers are not a symbol of harm to your body. Instead, they replace the name of a specific chemical with a number, so that the EFSA can easily track their data by simply entering a number rather than full name.
To learn about natural color click Santacolor.
