HealthyPIG Magazine

Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), the sodium salt of the polyphosphate pentaanion, is a synthetic ingredient primarily used to maintain moisture in fish. Its European food additive number is E 451(i).

Dextrins are a group of low molecular weight carbohydrates produced by the hydrolysis of starch or glycogen. Dextrin is a mixture of polymers of D-glucose units. Dextrins can be produced from starches using enzymes similar to amylase, such as in human digestion and malting and mashing, or by applying dry heat to acidic conditions. A process used industrially that also occurs on the surface of bread during the baking process, contributing to flavor, color and crispness. Dextrins produced by heating are also called pyrodextrins. Starch is hydrolyzed during baking under acidic conditions, and the short-chain starch portion is partially re-branched, and α-(1,6) bonds are combined with the degraded starch molecules. Dextrins are white, yellow or brown powders that are partially or completely soluble in water, producing low viscosity optically active solutions. Most of them can be detected with iodine solution and appear red; one distinguishes erythrotype dextrin and colorless dextrin.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid. It is found in the flesh of cold-water fish, including mackerel, herring, tuna, halibut, salmon, cod liver, whale or seal blubber. EPA is used as a prescription drug to lower triglyceride levels. As a supplement, EPA is most commonly used to treat heart disease, prevent adverse events after a heart attack, and depression. It is also used to treat side effects associated with chemotherapy, recovery from surgery, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.

Soy lecithin is one of the common but little-known ingredients. Unfortunately, it's also a food ingredient for which unbiased, scientifically-backed data is difficult to find. So, what do you need to know about soy lecithin, and why do you need it?

Caramel coloring, also known as caramel coloring, is one of the oldest and most commonly used colorings in food and beverages. The European food additive number is E150. Its color ranges from pale yellow to amber to dark brown, and can be added to foods to produce a variety of colors. Generally, it is gluten-free and vegetarian.

At the request of the European Commission in March 2020, EFSA updated its safety assessment of the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171). The upda...

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), also known as E171 in our foods, is very commonly used as a white colorant in foods, but is also used in paints, coatings,...

Erythrosine, also known as Red No. 3, is an organic iodine compound, specifically a derivative of fluorone. It is a cherry pink synthetic that is m...