E123 莧菜紅

Amaranth is a deep red to purple azo dye used as a food dye and color cosmetics.

The name comes from amaranth, a plant known for its red color and edible protein-rich seeds. Amaranth is an anionic dye. Can be applied to natural and synthetic fibers, leather, paper and phenolic resins. As a food additive, its E number is E123. Amaranth usually comes in the form of trisodium salt.

Appearance: reddish brown, dark red to purple water-soluble powder, decomposes at 120℃ without melting. Its aqueous solution has maximum absorption at about 520 nm. Like all azo dyes, amaranth was made from coal tar in the mid-20th century; modern synthetic materials are more likely to be made from petroleum by-products. Since 1976, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned amaranth as a suspected carcinogen. Its use is still legal in some countries, particularly in the UK, where it is most commonly used to give Glace cherries their distinctive color

Chemical properties of additives

E123 Azo dye looks like a violet, reddish-brown or purple powder. It is obtained during the processing of coal tar. There is a plant of the same name in nature, but matter has nothing to do with it. The additive dissolves well and at temperatures of 120 degrees Celsius and above it begins to decompose into elements but does not melt.
The persistent chemical properties of the substance are explained by the presence of nitrogen-containing coloring compounds in its composition. Since amaranth is actually a waste from the coal industry, its cost is very low, which is why it is so popular among industrialists.

The main property of this substance is coloration. Added to food to enhance and intensify its natural color, to give it a color different from its natural color, or to restore a color that has been changed or deteriorated during heating or other processing.

Food additive E123 will not affect the taste of food. The same applies to the texture, shelf life and other cooking characteristics of food. Amaranth is only responsible for the discoloration.

Material uses: From sheepskin coats to jam

Given the strength of the pigments contained in the dye, it does a great job of coloring more than just cakes or cupcakes. In the textile industry, amaranth is used to dye fabrics instead of the more expensive and less common cochineal. E123 is also popular in the field of making leather goods, jackets, sheepskin coats and fur coats: when you see a fur coat in an unusual bright burgundy or scarlet color, you can hardly suspect that it is made of amaranth Color dyed.

Dye E123 is also used to impart red, pink, purple or blue color to paper or cardboard.
In the cosmetics industry, the substance is a common ingredient in lipsticks, blushes, nail polishes and other "tinted" varieties of decorative cosmetics and care products.
Russia, Ukraine and the United States have banned the use of amaranth in food. However, the EU imposes no such restrictions on its territory.

In addition, amaranth is added to such products:

  • Dry mixes for baking, jellies, biscuits;
  • dry breakfast;
  • sweet carbonated drinks;
  • Candy (ice cream, desserts, lollipops, dragees);
  • chewing gum;
  • Canned fruit with characteristic colors.

Dangers of using the dye "Amaranth"

This substance has long been used in the production of various foods, desserts and baby food. However, studies conducted in the United States in the 1970s produced alarming results, and since then Americans have almost completely stopped using this additive in cooking. Later, some other countries joined them.

Experiments involving laboratory mice showed that as a result of the use of amaranth, the rodents began to develop dense, cancerous tumors. Due to its properties as an allergen, this substance is extremely dangerous to allergy and asthma sufferers, causing hives, itching, and chronic rhinitis. Additionally, negative effects on the liver and kidneys were revealed, as well as disturbances in the functioning of these organs.

Today, in countries where the use of a certain substance is not banned, the packaging of products containing this additive must be marked in a special way to draw the attention of buyers.

Bright red, purple or violet powders with intense and long-lasting coloring properties remain popular in the UK. It can be found in canned berries and fruits, desserts, jellies and other very attractive foods.

Exactly why the UK and other countries in the EU were so bold in ignoring the findings of chemists and biologists on the properties of amaranth is unknown. However, its dangers and hazards to human health have ceased to be in doubt over the past 50 years: the substance is highly mutagenic, toxic and carcinogenic and is a potent allergen. Although the use of this dye in cosmetics has not been officially banned in all states to date, manufacturers are trying to reduce the amount used and gradually switch to more harmless additives. The reason is that amaranth can cause urticaria not only through eating, but also through contact with mucous membranes and skin. Such cases have been recorded more than once in world practice

Think of the world's sweetest, juiciest dessert, and it's likely to have a red hue on its palette, as this color is a natural appetite booster. The dye amaranth has long been used in the food and cosmetics industries to give products a juicy cherry or strawberry color until its possible link to cancer was discovered in the 1970s.

The dangers of amaranth or food additives E-123

Amaranth - Its hazards are not officially recognized worldwide. Currently, it is prohibited to be used in the food industry in Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. But there is no official ban in EU countries, and if you visit the UK, for example, you can find it marked in canned cherries.
What effects does E-123 have on the body? Because there are no relevant studies, no direct link has been found between human cancer and E-123 use. But experiments on rats in the 1970s showed that the use of dyes could lead to liver disease, fetal birth defects, infertility, stillbirth, premature death of offspring, and the formation and growth of malignant tumors.
As for the people, opinions are quite ambivalent. Of note, E-123 can cause small red rashes (hives) and worsen bronchial asthma associated with increased aspirin sensitivity. According to some scientists, nutritional supplements can cause itchy rashes and hyperactivity symptoms in children and may cause developmental disorders in the fetus.

What products contain E-123?

Amaranth allows food technicians to work wonders. E-123 is readily soluble in water and retains its coloring properties without melting at temperatures up to +120 °C.

E-123 can dye products red with bluish, brown or purple tints. This is ideal if you want the berries that darken during cooking to look appetizing and fresh. After being exposed to the dye, the glazed fruit on the finished dessert looks like it was just picked. So it's no surprise that at the height of its popularity, E123 was showing up not only in canned foods but also on the labels of muffins, cookies, jellies, cereals, sodas, and ice cream. This shade also entered the arsenal of cosmetic manufacturers, who successfully used it in blushes and lipsticks.

Main points

  • E123 is a food additive approved by the European Union (EU). It is used as a synthetic colorant in food and beverage products and photography.
  • The common name for E123 is Amaranth.
  • E123 gives the product a red/purple color and is extremely soluble in water - making it useful as a photographic dye. E123 is commonly used in wine and spirits.
  • E123 has been linked to asthma and eczema, as well as ADHD in children. Some people also question the possibility of E123 causing cancer. Individuals who are intolerant to salicylates may find that they are intolerant to E123 because E123 is an azo dye.
  • E123 is banned in many countries, including the United States, Austria, Russia and Norway.

Review

All comments are moderated before being published

HealthyPIG Magazine

View all
Transform Your Home with the Philips Smart 1000i Air Purifier: Allergy Relief Meets Smart Living

Transform Your Home with the Philips Smart 1000i Air Purifier: Allergy Relief Meets Smart Living

In today’s fast-paced world, where indoor air quality often goes unnoticed, the Philips Air Purifier Smart 1000i Series offers a breath of fresh ai...
皮質醇管理:如何控制皮質醇?我們能夠自行管理或調節劑量嗎?

皮質醇管理:如何控制皮質醇?我們能夠自行管理或調節劑量嗎?

皮質醇是一種在壓力反應中發揮重要作用的激素,適量的皮質醇可以幫助我們應對壓力和維持健康。然而,過量或長期的高皮質醇水平可能會對身體帶來負面影響。以下我們將探討如何控制和管理皮質醇,包括自然方法、藥物干預、以及測量皮質醇的方式。 1. 自然方法調節皮質醇 壓力管理技術:研究顯示,冥想、深呼吸...
皮質醇是什麼?它如何影響我們的身體與日常生活?

皮質醇是什麼?它如何影響我們的身體與日常生活?

皮質醇(Cortisol)是一種由腎上腺分泌的激素,通常被稱為「壓力荷爾蒙」。它的主要功能是幫助身體應對壓力情境,並且在多種生理過程中扮演重要角色。皮質醇的釋放受腦部下丘腦-垂體-腎上腺軸(HPA軸)控制,這是一個調節人體反應於壓力的系統。 皮質醇對身體的影響 當我們處於壓力下時,皮質...
為什麼我們在緊張時總是忍不住吃零食?科學解密壓力性飲食行為

為什麼我們在緊張時總是忍不住吃零食?科學解密壓力性飲食行為

當人們感到緊張或壓力時,經常會無意識地吃零食,這種行為主要涉及大腦的多巴胺系統、情緒反應以及身體的生理需求。以下是背後的幾個主要原因: 壓力荷爾蒙的影響:壓力會觸發皮質醇的釋放,這種壓力激素會引發人們對高糖和高脂肪食物的渴望。這些食物能帶來短暫的愉悅感,因為它們能刺激大腦分泌多巴胺,讓人感...
光學治療濕疹 - 全面總結

光學治療濕疹 - 全面總結

簡介 光療使用光波來治療某些皮膚問題。皮膚會暴露於紫外線 (UV) 光下一段設定的時間。光療利用人造的紫外線光源,紫外線也來自陽光。當與一種叫做甲氧補骨脂素的藥物一起使用時,這個程序稱為 PUVA 光療。 紫外線光能夠抑制皮膚中的免疫系統細胞,對於因免疫系統過度反應引起的皮膚問題有幫助。可以使...
什麼是「操縱者」?

什麼是「操縱者」?

操縱者,也可以說成「擅用手段的人」,「心機重的人」。操縱者利用欺騙、影響或者其他形式的心理操控來控制或影響他人,以達到自己的目標。他們的行為通常包含使用隱蔽、間接或偷偷摸摸的手法來獲得他們想要的東西,往往是以犧牲他人為代價。以下是一些常見的特徵和手段: 欺騙: 他們可能會說謊或扭曲事實來誤...
什麼是肌肉抽搐?你需要去看醫生嗎?

什麼是肌肉抽搐?你需要去看醫生嗎?

肌肉抽搐,也稱為肌束顫動,是指身體各部分出現不自主的肌肉收縮。以下是肌肉抽搐的原因、症狀及管理方法的詳細介紹: 肌肉抽搐的原因 壓力和焦慮 高水平的壓力和焦慮會導致肌肉緊張和抽搐。身體對壓力的反應會觸發神經系統,導致肌肉不自主地收縮。 疲勞 過度使用或劇烈運動後的肌肉疲勞會導致肌...
蘋果與牙齒健康:保護牙齒的小技巧

Apples and Dental Health: Tips to Protect Your Teeth

Apples are widely loved for their rich nutritional content and refreshing taste. However, apples' acidic and sugary content may also have an impact...
蘋果籽的毒性:它們真的有毒嗎?

Apple Seed Toxicity: Are They Really Poisonous?

Apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, compounds that break down in the body to produce cyanide, which has raised concerns about the toxicity o...