Essay E-numbers
Additives are substances added to anything we consume, including medicines. All
additives have one or multiple specific functions, for instance, changing the colour of
a product, improving the taste, enhancing the smell, improving your health or
preserving food. Most additives have an E-number, the additives are indicated on
products by either the scientific name of the substance or the E-number.
Unfortunately, some people are concerned about too many E-numbers in products
and try to avoid as many E-numbers as possible, but this is almost impossible,
because we consume them every day. They believe that E-numbers are unhealthy,
but I think this is not entirely true.
E-numbers can cause many different side effects, some of which are quite serious.
An example of this is E110, also called sunset yellow. This E-number is used in many
products, including hot chocolate milk mix and candy. Sunset yellow is a food
colorant, so it improves the appearance of the product, but in the meanwhile can
cause many different side effects, one of which is ADHD. Investigations have shown
that many E-numbers can cause or increase ADHD. Another example of this is E102,
also called tartazine, which is also a yellow food colorant. This colorant has many
different side effects as well, one of which is the causing of asthma attacks. It can
also increase hyperactivity in children, which seems to be a growing problem among
children. These are only a few of the many examples of side effects of E-numbers, E-
numbers can cause serious allergic reactions, so it is obvious people are concerned
about them.
This might be true, but it is important to realise that the chance of having these side
effects is very small. The chance of being allergic to an E-number is not much bigger
than the chance of being allergic to any other product. You can find many different
side effects when you are researching an E-number, but when you search on the
side effects of strawberries you’ll find the same thing. Strawberries can cause liver
disease, yellowed skin, kidney ailments, nervous tension, diarrhea, and many other
things. This all sounds very worrisome, but the chance of having an allergy for
strawberries is extremely small. This is not any different with E-numbers. You can
have an allergy for E-numbers, and if you have it, it is definitely important to avoid or
minimize these E-numbers. But if you don’t, worrying about E-numbers and their side
effects might be unnecessary. Also, E-numbers might contribute to your problems,
like asthma, but it is never proven to actually cause asthma. Hyperactivity in children
might worsen when consuming products with certain E-numbers, but causing
hyperactivity is not proven either.
Fortunately, many studies have been done, and we know how much of an E-number
is save to consume. For this we have the MDI value. The MDI value (Maximum Daily
Intake) is a certain amount of a substance in mg per kg of bodyweight per day that is
safe to consume, and if you consume more than this value it does not mean you will
die immediately or notice any side effects. Studies have shown that the average
person usually has an intake far below this MDI value. With other words, if you worry,
have a look at the MDI value, then you will know how much is safe to consume and
you will probably realise that there is nothing to worry about. This MDI value is also
very useful for people with allergies. Sometimes an E-number has no MDI value, this
Additives are substances added to anything we consume, including medicines. All
additives have one or multiple specific functions, for instance, changing the colour of
a product, improving the taste, enhancing the smell, improving your health or
preserving food. Most additives have an E-number, the additives are indicated on
products by either the scientific name of the substance or the E-number.
Unfortunately, some people are concerned about too many E-numbers in products
and try to avoid as many E-numbers as possible, but this is almost impossible,
because we consume them every day. They believe that E-numbers are unhealthy,
but I think this is not entirely true.
E-numbers can cause many different side effects, some of which are quite serious.
An example of this is E110, also called sunset yellow. This E-number is used in many
products, including hot chocolate milk mix and candy. Sunset yellow is a food
colorant, so it improves the appearance of the product, but in the meanwhile can
cause many different side effects, one of which is ADHD. Investigations have shown
that many E-numbers can cause or increase ADHD. Another example of this is E102,
also called tartazine, which is also a yellow food colorant. This colorant has many
different side effects as well, one of which is the causing of asthma attacks. It can
also increase hyperactivity in children, which seems to be a growing problem among
children. These are only a few of the many examples of side effects of E-numbers, E-
numbers can cause serious allergic reactions, so it is obvious people are concerned
about them.
This might be true, but it is important to realise that the chance of having these side
effects is very small. The chance of being allergic to an E-number is not much bigger
than the chance of being allergic to any other product. You can find many different
side effects when you are researching an E-number, but when you search on the
side effects of strawberries you’ll find the same thing. Strawberries can cause liver
disease, yellowed skin, kidney ailments, nervous tension, diarrhea, and many other
things. This all sounds very worrisome, but the chance of having an allergy for
strawberries is extremely small. This is not any different with E-numbers. You can
have an allergy for E-numbers, and if you have it, it is definitely important to avoid or
minimize these E-numbers. But if you don’t, worrying about E-numbers and their side
effects might be unnecessary. Also, E-numbers might contribute to your problems,
like asthma, but it is never proven to actually cause asthma. Hyperactivity in children
might worsen when consuming products with certain E-numbers, but causing
hyperactivity is not proven either.
Fortunately, many studies have been done, and we know how much of an E-number
is save to consume. For this we have the MDI value. The MDI value (Maximum Daily
Intake) is a certain amount of a substance in mg per kg of bodyweight per day that is
safe to consume, and if you consume more than this value it does not mean you will
die immediately or notice any side effects. Studies have shown that the average
person usually has an intake far below this MDI value. With other words, if you worry,
have a look at the MDI value, then you will know how much is safe to consume and
you will probably realise that there is nothing to worry about. This MDI value is also
very useful for people with allergies. Sometimes an E-number has no MDI value, this
