Do you know this? You are in the grocery store and want to do your shopping . You pick up a product and read the ingredients. Little by little you stumble across E-numbers and ingredients that don't necessarily sound natural. The food industry adds these additives to make products more durable, creamier and finer .
additives are either listed by their full name or with their corresponding E number in the list of ingredients on the food packaging. If you do not know an E number, you can enter and decode it here .
You can also find an overview of the various additives and their E-number designations here.
Additives can be produced in different ways:
- Plant sources
for example chlorophyl (E140) or pectin (E440). - Animal sources
for example beeswax (E901) - Inorganic sources
for example magnesium chloride (E511) - Synthetic chemical sources
for example sweeteners such as aspartame (E951)
Leavening agents
They release gas so that the dough rises and becomes voluminous and airy.
Fillers
They give a product more volume without increasing its energy content.
Humectants
They prevent a food from drying out.
Modified starch
Starches are chemically treated one or more times to change their consistency or color.
Sweeteners
Give a product a sweet taste without having to use sugar.
Colorants
The natural color of food is often lost through cooking or storage. Artificial or natural colorants are used to restore the color.
Flavorings
There are natural (vanilla), nature-identical (vanillin) and artificial substances. They help to intensify the existing taste of a food. Examples are fruit yogurts or energy drinks.
Preservatives
They prevent molds or other fermentation and putrefaction pathogens from growing.
Antioxidants
They extend the shelf life by protecting the food from oxygen.
Thickening agents
They make the consistency of food creamy and smooth.
Emulsifiers
They prevent food from curdling.
Humectants
They protect products from drying out.
Acidulants
They balance the acidity of foods. These additives also affect shelf life, appearance and taste.
Flavor enhancers
These additives intensify the taste of a product or give it an additional flavor.
Continue to enjoy your favorite products!
For an additive to be used, it must be harmless to health and technologically necessary. The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) stipulates which additives may be used and in what quantities in the Additives Ordinance.
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