500 - 585 - MINERAL SALTS, ANTI-CAKING AGENTS
620 To 610 - FLAVOUR ENHANCERS
 
500 - E500 Sodium carbonates

Mineral salt, adjusting and modifying agent in the process of malting beer, baking soft and fizzy drinks, medications. No known adverse effects in small quantities.

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501 - E501 Potassium carbonates

Mineral salt, adjusting and modifying agent. Used as gastric antacid and to replenish electrolytes in the body, cocoa, confectionary, custard powder and as for 500. No known adverse effects.

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503 Ammonium carbonates

Mineral salt, adjusting and modifying agent. Irritant to mucous membranes, alters pH of urine and may cause loss of calcium and magnesium.  Used in some medications, baked goods, baking powder, cocoa items confectionary, ice cream.

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504 - E504 Magnesium carbonate

Mineral salt, anti-caking, adjusting, bleaching, modifying agent. Medically used as an antacid and laxative.

Magnesium is used in the treatment of heart attack patients, and promotes the health of arteries, bones, nerves and teeth, low-sodium salt substitute, table salt.

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507 - E507 Hydrochloric acid

Acidity regulator. May have teratogenic properties and may be carcinogenic when mixed with formaldehyde. Safe in small quantities.  Mainly for the malting of beer, gelatine manufacture, cornflour.

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508 - E508 Potassium chloride

Mineral salt. Large quantities can cause gastric ulceration. Used as an electrolyte replenisher. Used in brewing, salt substitute, gelling agent, reduced sodium breads.

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509 - E509 Calcium chloride

Mineral salt, modifying agent, preservative, firming agent, sequestrant.

Derived from brine.

Used in jelly, cheese, and to keep canned fruit/vegetable firm.

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510 - E510
Ammonium chloride

Should be avoided by people with impaired liver or kidney function. Typically in flour products, bread mixes, low sodium salt substitute.

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511 - E511
Magnesium chloride

Mineral salt, firming agent. Magnesium is an essential mineral. Used in foods and pharmaceuticals. Industrial grade not for human consumption.

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E513
Sulphuric acid

Banned in Australia. Used in beer. Has teratogenic properties.

Avoid it.

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514 - E514
Sodium sulphates

Mineral salt, anti-caking agent for diluting colour powders in beer, biscuits, chewing gum, confectionary. May upset the body's water balance.

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515 - E515
Potassium sulphates

Mineral salt, anti-caking agent for beer, pharmaceuticals, salt substitute. No known adverse effects, but large doses can cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding, use sparingly.

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516 - E516
Calcium sulphate

Mineral salt, artificial sweetener base, bleaching agent for bread rolls, flour, tinned tomatoes, soy tofu, dried egg, cheese products, tooth paste. Used in mortar, cement and plaster of Paris. Derived from limestone. No known adverse effects.

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E517
Ammonium sulphate

White solid, used in water purification.

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518 - E518
Magnesium sulphate, Epsom salts

.

Mineral salt, firming agent for medications, pharmaceuticals, nutrition supplements and infant formula as a mineral. Used in beer and a laxative. Dangerous to people with kidney problems and has teratogenic properties.

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E519
Copper sulphate

Mineral salt, anti-caking agent which is manufactured but occurs naturally and used for making azo dyes. Fed to pigs to stimulate growth. A cumulative poison. Essential mineral for many body functions such as making blood and tissues to fighting infections.  Naturally in meat, cereals, vegetables.  Used in infant formula as a mineral supplement.

NOT TO BE TAKEN ON ITS OWN.

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E524
Sodium hydroxide

Adjusting agent, base and colour solvent (caustic). Used in drain cleaners, cocoa products, sour cream, edible fats and oils, jam, tinned vegetables, glaze on pretzels.

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

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E525
Potassium hydroxide

Mineral salt (caustic) used in cocoa products, cheese products, jam black olives.

Banned in Australia, check imported foods.

Avoid it.

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526 - E526
Calcium hydroxide

Mineral salt made from lime as a firming and neutralising agent used in making beer, soap and glazing pretzels, infant formula as a mineral, cocoa products, sour cream, edible fats and oils, jam, tinned vegetables.

No adverse effects in small quantities.

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527 - E527
Ammonium hydroxide

Diluted household ammonia.

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

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528 - E528
Magnesium hydroxide

Mineral salt. Milk of magnesia.

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

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529 - E529
Calcium oxide

Mineral salt, adjusting and modifying agent used in bread, confectionary, sour cream, dairy products, tripe, tinned peas. Safe in small quantities.

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530 - E530
Magnesium oxide

Alkali, neutraliser and anti-caking agent.  It can be found in frozen dairy products, butter, canned peas, cocoa products, medications. Used as a medical laxative. Banned in Australia. Avoid it.

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535 - E535
Sodium ferrocyanide

Crystal modifier, anti-caking agent. No adverse effects known for use in food.

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536 - E536
Potassium ferrocyanide

Synthetic crystallising agent. Metal removal in wine, anti-caking agent, seasonings, spices. By-product of coal gas production; low toxicity, reduces oxygen transport in the blood, which in turn may cause breathing difficulties, dizziness or headache. 

Banned in the United States.

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540 - E540
Dicalcium diphosphate

Occurs naturally as monetite. Buffer, neutralising and raising agent in yeast products, dietary supplement.

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

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541 - E541
Sodium aluminium phosphate, acidic

Acidity regulator, emulsifier used in baked goods, cheese products, confectionary, mince meat, frozen fish, stews. A risk to babies, elderly and people suffering from kidney and heart complaints. Possible link to osteoporosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Avoid it.

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541 - E541
Sodium aluminium phosphate, alkaline

 

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

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542 - E542@
Bone phosphate, edible bone phosphate

Derived from steaming animal bones. Used in dried milk for coffee machines and as filler in tablets.

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544
Calcium polyphosphates

Emulsifier salts for use in foods mainly with dairy and cheese products in them, everything but fizzy drinks!  May cause enzyme blocking in the digestive system and cause calcium phosphorous imbalance.

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

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545
Ammonium polyphosphates

Emulsifier salts as for 544, plus chewing gum, beer, cider, herb teas, confectionary, processed nuts. 

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

See 544

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551 - E551
Silicon dioxide

From sand or Quarz. No adverse effects are known in food use. Artificial sweetener, anti-caking agent, thickener and stabiliser in beer, confectionary, sausages, dried milk - huge range of foods.

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552 - E552
Calcium silicate

Derived from limestone and diatomaceous earth (the silicified skeletons of diatoms, a single celled plankton), antacid, glaze, polishing, release, dusting agent in chewing gum, coating agent on rice. No known adverse effects.

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E553(a)
Magnesium silicates

Banned in Australia. Antacid, glaze, polish, release, anti-caking, dusting, coating agent.

Avoid it.

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E553(b)
Talc

 

Has been linked to stomach cancer, typical products are polished rice, chocolate, confectionary, icing sugar, noodles, medicinal tablets.

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554 - E554
Sodium aluminium silicate

Mineral salt, anti-caking agent. Used in salt, dried milk substitutes, egg mixes, sugar products and flours.  Aluminium is known to cause placental problems in pregnancy and has been linked to Alzheimer's Parkinson's, bone loss.

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556 - E556
Calcium aluminium silicate

Derived from minerals; used in milk powders;

see 554

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558 - E558
Bentonite

No known adverse effects. From natural clay. Decolouriser, filter medium, emulsifier and anti-caking agent. Used in pharmaceutical agents for external use, edible fats and oils, sugar, wine.

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559 - E559
Aluminium silicate (Kaolin)

No known adverse effects, except in large quantities can cause intestinal obstruction and tumours. Mineral salt, anticaking agent used in medications and vending machine dried milk. Used in cosmetics, blocks skin pores.

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570 - E570@
Stearic acid

Saturated fatty acid, possibly of pig origin, cascarilla bark extract or vegetable fats. Anti-caking agent in chewing gum, confectionary, butter or vanilla flavouring for drinks, artificial sweeteners.

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572@
Magnesium stearate

No known adverse effects in food use. Stabiliser, anti-caking and release agent, emulsifier for artificial sweeteners and confectionary. Inhalation of the powder is harmful.

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575 - E575
Glucono delta-lactone

No known adverse effects in food. Food acid, artificial sweetener base, acidity regulator. Made from glucose.  Stops 'stone' formation during manufacture with milk and beer.  Found in gluten free food, processed meat, cheese.

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E576
Sodium gluconate

Synthetic.  Picks up metal traces and holds them in the product. Dietary supplement and sequestrant found in baked goods, confectionary, soft, sports and fizzy drinks, processed meats, nutritional supplements, desserts.

Banned in Australia.

Avoid it.

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577 - E577
Potassium gluconate

Synthetic.  Picks up metal traces and holds them in the product. No known adverse effects, mildly toxic by ingestion. Sequestrant, stabiliser. Used for treating hypokalemia (low levels of calcium).  See 576.

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578 - E578
Calcium gluconate

Synthetic.  Picks up metal traces and holds them in the product. No known adverse effects but may cause stomach upsets and heart problems. Firming agent and buffer, sequestrant, acidity regular, artificial sweetener base.

Used medically to replenish calcium in the body.  Is contained in a large range of products but meat and cheese, infant formula supplement.

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579
Ferrous gluconate

Colour-retention agent; derived from iron and glucose; used in olives, iron supplements (use sparingly). In small amounts it is safe but may cause gastrointestinal stress. Used in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia. Restricted in the USA for colouring olives only as is known to cause death in children up to 24 months with only 1 - 2 grams!

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E585
Ferrous lactate

Unknown effects.

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620 - E620@
Glutamic acid

Flavour enhancer, salt substitute used in sausages, seasoning, savoury snacks - many savoury foods. An amino acid present in many animal and vegetable proteins, derived commercially from bacteria; might cause similar problems as MSG (621), young children should avoid it. It could kill nerve cells, resulting in diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

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621 - E621
Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG)

Added to any savoury processed protein food.  In cigarettes and animal food.  In over 10,000 foods in USA.  Flavour enhancer derived from the fermentation of molasses, salt substitute; adverse effects appear in some asthmatic people, should not be permitted in foods for infants and young children as it could damage the nervous system.

Typical products are canned vegetables, canned tuna, dressings, many frozen foods.

To be avoided.

It could kill nerve cells, resulting in diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Pregnant women, children, hypoglycemics, elderly and those with heart disease are at risk from reactions.

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622 - E622
Monopotassium L-glutamate

Less used and not as salty, low sodium salt substitute. Can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps; typical products are low sodium salt substitutes. Not for babies under 12 months old or those people with impaired kidneys.  See 621.

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623 - E623
Calcium di-L-glutamate

Salt substitute, no known adverse effects, but possible problems for asthmatics and aspirin sensitive people. See 621.

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624 - E624
Monoammonium L-glutamate

Salt substitute, flavour enhancer. No known adverse effects.

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625 - E625
Magnesium di-L-glutamate

Salt substitute, flavour enhancer. No known adverse effects.

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E626
Guanylic acid

Not listed for use in Australia. No known adverse effects

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627 - E627
Disodium guanylate

Flavour enhancer. Isolated from sardines or yeast extract; not permitted in foods for infants and young children. Persons with gout, hyperactivity, asthmatics and aspirin sensitive's should avoid it.   

It is found in instant noodles, potato chips and snacks, savoury rice, tinned vegetables, cured meats, packet soup.

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E629
Calcium guanylate

Little is known about this product. Flavour enhancer/ potentiator.

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E630
Inosinic acid

A dilute form of Inosine. Used by athletes to supposedly increase the oxygen capacity of there blood. Not enough information about this additive.

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631 - E631@
Disodium inosinate

May be prepared from meat or sardines; not permitted in foods for infants and young children. Gout sufferers avoid.  It is found in instant noodles, potato chips and snacks, savoury rice, tinned vegetables, cured meats, packet soup.  Frequently contains MSG(621).

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635
E635@
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide

Made from 627 and 631.  Check imported foods. May be associated with itchy skin rashes up to 30 hours after ingestion; rashes may vary from mild to dramatic; the reaction is dose-related and cumulative, some individuals are more sensitive than others; typical foods include flavoured chips, instant noodles and party pies.

Avoid it, especially gout sufferers, asthmatics and aspirin sensitive people.

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E635
Sodium 5'-ribonucleotide

 

Made from 627 and 631.  Check imported foods. May be associated with itchy skin rashes up to 30 hours after ingestion; rashes may vary from mild to dramatic; the reaction is dose-related and cumulative, some individuals are more sensitive than others; typical foods include flavoured chips, instant noodles and party pies.

Avoid it, especially gout sufferers, asthmatics and aspirin sensitive people.

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636 - E636
Maltol

Derived from the bark of larch trees, pine needles, chicory wood, oils and roasted malt; it may be produced synthetically. Artificial sweetener, flavour enhancer used in baked goods to give a 'fresh baked' taste and smell in bread and cakes, chocolate substitute, soft and fizzy drinks, ice cream, jam.

In large quantities it can help aluminium pass into the brain to cause Alzheimer's disease. 

Some countries ban it for babies and young children.

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637
Ethyl maltol

Derived from maltol chemically. Needs more testing. Base for essences, synthetic artificial flavour and flavour enhancer.  Some countries ban it for babies and young children.  See 636.

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640 - E640@
Glycine (and its sodium salts),
glycol, amino acetic acid

Flavour modifier. Genetically coded amino acid used in dietary supplements. Can be mildly toxic if ingested.

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