E 262 additive what harm to humans. E262 - Sodium acetates

21.08.2020

general characteristics

E262 is a colorless, white or yellowish crystalline powder. By composition, the substance belongs to sodium salt acetic acid... Occurs in natural environment as an integral element of plant cells and living organisms. It is released during the fermentation of bacteria in fermented milk products.

Types of food additives E262 and their properties

Property

E262i (sodium acetate)

E262ii (sodium diacetate)

White, colorless

Colorless, white, yellow

Odorless or light vinegar aroma

Acetic acid smell

Water solubility

Solubility in other substances

Average in ethanol and ether

Average in ethanol and ether

The amount of the main substance

Unflavored or slightly salty

Unflavored or slightly salty

Density

pH of aqueous solution

Appearance

Powder, crystals, granules

Crystals

I exist different ways extraction of sodium acetates. A chemical reaction is often carried out between sodium carbonates and acetic acid. Also carry out the distillation of wood with sodium salt of carbonic acid. E262 can be obtained even at home, simply by extinguishing soda with vinegar.

Appointment

Sodium Acetates Retain Shape, Flavor, Aroma & Texture food products, improve the consistency of raw materials and extend the shelf life. E262 acts as a preservative, acidity regulator and flavoring agent.

Impact on the health of the human body: benefits and harms

Today, research on the effect of sodium acetate on the body continues. E262 is considered non-toxic, has no carcinogenic properties and does not lead to serious negative consequences. In this regard, the indicator of the maximum allowable dose was not established. The body is able to process matter and include sodium ions in mineral metabolism.

The food supplement is contraindicated for people with individual intolerance to acetic compounds. It is also necessary to refrain from using E262 for diseases of the kidneys, liver and intestines.

Long-term inhalation of sodium diacetate vapors can cause conjunctivitis, skin lesions, allergic reactions, metabolic disorders and irritation of the upper respiratory tract.

An excessive amount of sodium ions leads to a decrease in potassium in the body and disrupts the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Consuming sodium acetate in combination with a lot of edible salt harmful to the elderly and with heart disease.

The positive effect of sodium acetate on the body has not been found.

Application

E262 is used in the manufacture of food products. It serves as a preservative and acidity regulator. Preserves the aroma, structure and taste of products. The substance is added to bakery products to protect against so "potato disease" caused by bacteria. The additive improves the taste canned vegetables and fruits. Sodium acetate can also be found in chips (they are tastier and more aromatic with E262).


Other uses of the substance:

  • medicine (in the manufacture of diuretics, antiseptic, analgesic and wound healing agents);
  • textile production (for dyeing fabrics and leather dressing);
  • construction (as an anti-freeze component for concrete);
  • animal husbandry (preservative for feed and feed grains);
  • chemical industry (in the composition of acetic anhydride, dyes, vinyl acetate);
  • photoindustry (as an acidic fixer).

Sodium acetate is part of hot ice, used for the manufacture of heaters and chemical heating pads.

Table. The norm for the content of food additives E262 in products according to SanPiN 2.3.2.1293-03 of 05/26/2008.

Legislation

E262 is a safe preservative that is approved for use in all countries, including Russia and Ukraine. The world community has not established the maximum permissible dose, since the body can process the substance without restrictions.

The video below shows the way to get home option sodium acetate.

The food additive under the code number E 262 is classified as a flavoring agent and an acidity regulator at the same time, with an extremely low level of danger to human health. It is used in food production as a preservative.

Origin: 2-synthetic;

Danger:extremely low level;

Synonymous names:E262, sodium diacetate, sodium acetates, Sodium acetates, sodium diacetate, sodium hydrogen acetate, E-262, sodium hydroacetate, sodium acetate, sodium diacetate.

General information

The physical characteristics of sodium acetate are as follows: crystalline powder, colorless, there is a weak aroma of acetic acid, the powder has a low level of toxicity and a complete absence of flammability.

Industrial sodium acetate can be slightly brown or yellow in color. It depends on the presence of various impurities in it.

The additive dissolves with difficulty in ether and ethanol. But it shows fast and high-quality solubility in aqueous media.

For food production, the additive E 262 is produced in two versions: E262i is a code assigned to sodium acetate, which can be expressed through the following chemical formula: C 2 H 3 NaO 2, and E262ii - this is how sodium hydrocetate (sodium diacetate) is encrypted, expressed in chemical formula as follows: C 4 H 7 NaO 4 H 2 O.

The production of sodium acetates in industry can be similar using several methods. One of them is the reaction of sodium carbonates with acetic acid.

In living nature, sodium acetate is one of the constituents of animal and plant cells. In combination with natural acids, sodium acetate is found in many fruits. It is also a waste product of a certain kind of bacteria and is present in all lactic acid products without exception.

Influence on the body

Harm

Since acetates are the constituent components of the cells of the body, the additive E 262 does not cause negative side effects. Only a small percentage of people can develop acetic acid.

For this additive, no standardizing doses have even been established, since it is processed in the human body in any quantity.

Benefit

Unfortunately, special useful qualities not available in sodium acetate.

Usage

This preservative is used in the production of canned vegetables and fruit. To protect baked goods from the so-called "potato disease", baked goods are added to flour. Products get a piquant vinegar taste and light aroma when sodium acetate is added to them.

In medicine, this substance is used in the composition of many drugs with a diuretic effect on the human body and in the production of chemical heating pads.

In the construction industry, E 262 improves the frost-resistant properties of concrete.

In addition to all of the above, this substance is used in photography, in the textile industry, electroplating, in chemical industries.

Legislation

In all countries of the world, this additive is approved as a safe preservative for food production.

). In the food industry, E262 additive is used as a preservative, acidity regulator and flavoring agent.

According to their physical properties, sodium acetates are a colorless crystalline substance with a faint odor of acetic acid. Sodium acetates obtained for industrial purposes can have a hue from light yellow to brown depending on the impurities present. E262 additive has low solubility in ethers and alcohols, but at the same time high solubility in aqueous solutions. Sodium acetates are non-flammable and have low toxicity.

In the food industry, two types of E262 additive are used:

  • E262i - sodium acetate, ( Sodium acetate) with the chemical formula of the substance: C 2 H 3 NaO 2;
  • E262ii - Sodium diacetate or sodium hydrocetate (Sodium diacetate, Sodium hydrogen acetate) with the chemical formula C 4 H 7 NaO 4 H 2 O.

Sodium acetates are industrially produced in several ways, for example by reacting sodium carbonates or hydroxides with acetic acid.

  • 2CH 3 COOH + Na 2 CO 3 → 2CH 3 COONa + H 2 O + CO 2

Sodium acetate is often found in nature. It is one of the constituent cells of animals and plants. Sodium acetate is present along with naturally occurring acids in most fruits. In addition, it is a product of bacterial fermentation and, therefore, is present in all fermented milk products.

The use of the food additive E262 does not lead to any side effects since acetates are a common component of all cells in the body. E262 supplements should be avoided by only a small percentage of people allergic to vinegar. It is believed that the average organism can process the E262 supplement in any quantity, therefore the maximum daily dose of sodium acetate in Russia has not been established.

In the food industry, E262 additive is used for canning vegetables and fruits to soften the taste of acetic acid. In addition, by adding sodium acetate along with calcium acetate in small amounts to flour, manufacturers protect against potato disease bacteria ( Bacillus mesentericus) your bakery products. Also, the E262 additive is used as a flavoring agent in the production of chips, imparting a slightly vinegar taste and aroma to the product.

In addition to the food industry, sodium acetates are widely used:

  • in medicine - it is part of a number of drugs, used as a diuretic, used in the production of chemical heating pads;
  • in construction - as an additive that improves the antifreeze properties of concrete;
  • in chemistry - to obtain various chemical compounds, such as acetic anhydride;
  • In photography, electroplating;
  • in the textile industry when dyeing fabrics, tanning skins.

Food additive E262 is included in the list of approved food additives in most countries of the world, including the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

In the modern world, and especially in the food industry, where there are more and more synthetic additives, natural products are appreciated. And manufacturers who have studied the psychology of their consumers well, often use tricks such as indicating various natural ingredients on the packaging. However, “natural” is not a synonym for “useful”. Tobacco is also natural product however, to consider it useful, to put it mildly, is strange.

The same is true in the food industry. Among the several hundred E-supplements, there are indeed natural ones, that is, those that are present in nature. However, this does not mean that these supplements are not harmful to human health. Because most often they perform the function of preservatives, flavorings, dyes, and so on. And even if they themselves do not cause harm, think for yourself: if a product needs preservatives or flavor enhancers, this means only one thing - the product itself is far from natural; and the further it is from naturalness, the more harm it can do. One of these "natural" food additives, but with not the best characteristics, is food supplement E262.

Food supplement E262: what is it

Food additive - sodium salt of acetic acid. Sodium acetate is actually present in nature, as a constituent of animal and plant cells. It is also found naturally in fermented milk products. Therefore, sodium acetate itself is not toxic to the human body, since it is already contained in all cells.

Let's consider the cases of sodium acetate use in more detail. There are two types of E262 additive: sodium acetate and diacetate, or sodium hydroacetate. The substance is obtained by the reaction of carbonates with acetic acid.

As mentioned above, sodium acetate is a natural substance that is the result of bacterial fermentation, so its presence is quite natural in foods. However, the use of this additive in the food industry should be considered in terms of its functions. And its functions, frankly, are not the most unpleasant: sodium acetate is used as a preservative, acidity regulator and flavoring agent.

Food additive E262 is used in the manufacture of different types canned fruits and vegetables in order to mask the presence of acetic acid in these products, which does not have the best taste. However, one of the most dastardly ways to use the E262 food additive is to make chips. Sodium acetate gives chips containing a lot of other, more harmful pesticides, a specific taste that is addictive and addictive and motivates the consumer to regularly buy this harmful refined product.

E262: effect on the body

By itself, the food supplement E262 is not toxic to the body. However, a few important points should be noted. Firstly, sodium acetate is contraindicated for people who are allergic to vinegar, as it can cause a serious allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock. In the presence of such an allergy, it is advisable to avoid using flour products, chips and all sorts of canned food.

From the point of view of official science, the food supplement E262 is suitable for use in any quantity. But this contradicts elementary logic: all substances in the world, even clean air and simple clean water, are harmful in unlimited quantities, not to mention various chemical compounds like sodium acetate.

However, we are talking only about pure sodium acetate, and not about those products that contain it. And they leave much to be desired due to the presence of other, more harmful components in them. It is also worth noting that all the principles of interaction of the E262 food additive with other elements in the composition of products, as well as possible toxic substances that can be produced during such exposure, have not been studied. However, there may be these data, but manufacturers prefer to hush them up.

The food additive is allowed in most countries of the world, since it officially does not have a visible harmful effect on the human body.

Most housewives have received the E 262 food supplement at home at least once in their lives. Knowledge of chemistry is not necessary for this. It is enough to "extinguish" the soda.

The result of the reaction is sodium acetate. The connection, which is safe for health, has proven itself as well.

The chemical substance in the international codification is listed under the index E 262 (in other documents, the spelling E-262 may be found).

GOST 54626–2011 consolidated the definition of Sodium Acetates (international synonym for Sodium Acetates).

Food grade sodium acetates are represented by two chemical types:

  1. Sodium acetate:
    • Sodium Acetatei;
    • sodium acetate (chemical name);
    • E 262i.
  2. Sodium diacetate:
    • Sodium Acetateii;
    • sodium hydroacetate;
    • sodium acetate, sour (chemical name);
    • Sodium Hydrogen Acetate (Sodium Diacetate);
    • E 262ii.

German names: Natriumacetat, Natrium salz der Essigsaure.

French: Acetate de Sodium, Sel de Sodium de l'aside acetique.

Substance type

Food grade sodium acetates belong to the group artificial preservatives... By chemical composition are sodium salts of acetic acid. The production raw materials are:

  • acetic acid;
  • refined caustic soda;
  • soda ash;
  • caustic soda;
  • sodium carbonate;
  • sodium carbonate sour.

The main method of obtaining dry distillation of wood raw materials with sodium salt of carbonic acid. The technology of combining acetic acid (or its esters) with bicarbonate or sodium hydroxide is popular.

Properties

Sodium acetate (E 262i)

Sodium diacetate (E 262ii)

Package

According to GOST 54626–2011, the following can be used for packing food sodium:

  • woven grocery bags made of polypropylene (used most often);
  • boxes for confectionery corrugated cardboard;
  • multilayer paper bags.

A mandatory requirement is the presence of an additional insert made of durable polyethylene intended for packaging food products.

It is allowed to pack food preservatives in other safe containers (barrels, cans, containers).

In addition to the standard marking, there must be a sign "Keep away from moisture".

Application

Food grade sodium acetate is one of the most sought after additives in food production. The reason lies in the absence of toxic properties and low cost.

Food preservative E 262 can be used without limiting the daily intake.

Formaldehyde should not be used in food production as it is a very dangerous preservative. You can read more about it.

Main manufacturers

Sodium acetates are supplied to the domestic market by: the Ural Plant of Industrial Chemistry (the city of Magnitogorsk), the plant named after V.I. Ya. M. Sverdlova and LLC "Organika" (both the city of Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region).

A large volume of products is produced by the Chinese company Fooding, which includes 35 chemical enterprises from several regions of the country.

The high quality is distinguished by the products of the German company W. Urlich GmbH, which has a 70-year history of development.

The assertion that food supplement E 262 is converted into carcinogenic nitrites when ingested does not stand up to criticism.

Sodium acetates are found inside the cells of plants and living organisms. Are natural preservatives of all fermented milk products as a direct result of bacterial fermentation. If you do not use spoons of baking soda, do not drink vinegar in liters, the food supplement E 262 will be a useful and safe component of products.