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Chemical Ingredients Of Food Products (Part 3)

By Mumtaz Khalid Ismail

More Links Antioxidants Flavouring agents Stimulants Food substitutes and other miscellaneous substances

• Chemical Ingredients Of Food Products (Part 1)
• Chemical Ingredients Of Food Products (Part 2)

• Alpha tocopherol (vitamin E): it used in vegetable oils to prevent it from going rancid. It also enhances the nutritional value of the oil.
• Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C): it is used in cereals flours, jellies, canned mushrooms, artichokes fruit drinks, and cured meats. This vitamin acts as a stabilizing agent and also enhances the nutritional value of the food.
• Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA): used as preservative in cereals, potato chips, vegetable oil, butter, meats, baked goods, beer, snack foods, chewing gum etc. it is considered as safe, but in experimental animal it causes cancer.
• Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT): it is used as preservative for cereals, chewing gum, potato chips, oils etc. Few studies showed that this chemical cause cancer in lab animals.
• Erythorbic acid: It is used in cured meats, soft drinks, juice, wine. This chemical is safe.
• Propyl gallate: This is used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks, chicken soup base, and chewing gum. This chemical might cause cancer and hence to be avoided.

• Citric acid: It is used in canned fruit juices, sherbet, cheese, margarine, pickles, salad dressings, candy, carbonated beverages etc. It also acts as antioxidant and chelating agent. Except for gastric irritation it is safe.
• Sodium citrate: this is used in gelatin desserts, jam, ice cream, candy etc. Sodium citrate is a safe food additive.
• Hydrolysed vegetable protein (HVP): This chemical is used in instant soups, frankfurters, sauce mixes, and beef stew. It may cause allergic reaction in sensitive people.
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG): This controversial chemical is used in Chinese food, soup, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees, canned vegetables, canned tuna, and frozen foods. Safety aspect of it is controversial. Some authorities say that it is safe to consume in small amount except for person who is sensitive to this or on low sodium diet like hypertensive. In sensitive people, even in small quantity, can have varies manifestations ranging from asthma, headache, nausea, weakness, burning sensation in the back of neck and forearms, and changes in heart rate. Experiments done about 40 years back has proved that a large amounts of MSG fed to infant mice destroyed nerve cells in the brain. So it is better to avoid in young children, people on low sodium diet, and sensitive people.
• Phosphoric acid: It is used in cola drinks, skim milk, and cheese. It also acts as an emulsifier. Consumption in limited quantity is safe.

• Caffeine: it is naturally occurring in coffee, tea, cocoa, coffee-flavoured yoghurt and frozen desserts. This chemical is used as additive in soft drinks, gum, and waters. It is mildly addictive. Caffeine increases the risk of infertility, abortion and inhibits foetal growth. It also causes insomnia and jitteriness.

• Olestra: This chemical is used as fat substitute in food preparations such as chips, crackers etc. Olestra can cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, flatulence, and nutritional deficiencies especially of fat-soluble vitamins.
• Plant sterol esters / vegetable oil sterols: this is a cholesterol lowering substance used in food products such as margarine. Even though they are not toxic, they may reduce the body's absorption of some nutrients.
• Salatrim: This modified fat is used in candy and bakery products. Eating small amounts of salatrim is safe even though large amounts increase the risk of stomach cramps and nausea.
• Sodium bicarbonate: This leavening agent is used in bakery products, canned vegetables, and cereal flours. Since it have significant content of sodium people on low sodium diet like those who are suffering from hypertension should avoid this.
• Vanillin: It is a substitute for vanilla and is used in ice cream, baked goods, beverages, chocolate, candy, gelatin desserts etc. It is safe for consumption.

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