E number guide

Lanolin (E913) is used in food products as a glazing agent. It also goes by the names of “wool wax”, “wool fat”, or “wool grease”. Yum, sounds appetising! Cosmetic and ointment makers like it because it is readily absorbed into the skin and you’ve probably smeared into your lips already today or used it to cure your babies nappy rash. Outside of the world of products for humans it is used to prevent rust and sailors traditionally use it on ship parts to prevent barnacles sticking.

The Wikipedia entry for it claims that in its medical form is it hypoallegenic, which means safe for people vunerable to allergic reactions. But I’m sure that it is the Lanolin in wool jumpers that cause them to itch so much. So if it does that to the outside of your body, what effect will it have inside?

I’ve not found any research to show adverse health reactions to Lanolin, but Vegans need to be aware that Vitamin fortified margarines often use lanolin as a source of Vitamin D3.

• E913 - Lanolin
• Wikipedia
• Veganmania

Aspartame (E951) used as a sweetener in many products, even non-diet ones such as Lemonade. Of all the additives there are it also comes across as one of the scariest due to the list of things it is supposed to be responsible for. It is an intense sweetener, 200 times sweeter than sugar, that is synthesised from aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

You’ll probably recognise it for sale in as Canderel and Nutrasweet. But pretty much any food product out there labled as low-sugar, low-carb, low-fat, diet or lite will contain it.

It was originally banned as it was thought to be carcinogenic, but it somehow managed to find it’s way back onto our shelves. Indeed the UK Food Guide website says that “despite US FDA approval as a ‘safe’ additive, aspartame is one of the most dangerous substances ever to be foisted upon an unsuspecting public.” They go on to state that “reactions have included: headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, muscle spasm, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, vision problems, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, vertigo, tinitus, memory loss and joint pain.”

The more you read into aspartame, the worse it gets. Personally I’d say steer clear of it as much as you can.

Further reading:

• E951 - Aspartame
• Bryngollie
• UK Food Guide

WILD (that’s the company name) has launch a natural colouring under the name of Kiwi Green. Natural because it is made from plant extracts of stinging nettle and spinach. The website Food Ingredients First says that:

Tailored for several product requirements Kiwi Green is available in numerous color nuances and formulations. It is suitable for coloring candy, cereals, ice cream as well as dairy products, fat fillings and coatings. The neutral taste of this plant extract allows for its use in the coloring of sensitive products.

You may only see it listed as “coloring extract from plants” and it may be listed without an E number. In the states it can currently only be used with certain applications. I’ve read nothing to suggest it could be bad for you. But I’ll keep my eyes open.

I’ve added this interview to emphasise the harm that can be done by Aspartame (E951). Aspartame is a sweetener used in far far to many of our food items these days and has a scary number of reported effects to everyone.

Dr. Janet Starr Hull, PhD., CN

This aspartame interview was granted on 8/30/03 with Rebecca Kang from Singapore:

Interview

Q: How often does an average person happen to consume products with aspartame?

A; Daily in the United States. Aspartame is put into so many different products, consumers are exposed to it without awareness much of the time. Aspartame is in many products NOT labeled sugar-free, such as gums, cereals, ice creams, yogurts, and medications. I also have clients who consume up to a 12 pack of diet colas daily. And keep in mind, that children are consuming more and more aspartame laced products at earlier and earlier ages, which means they will develop health problems at earlier and earlier ages. Henceforth, the onslaught of children’s disease syndromes - diabetes, ADD/ADHD, depression and behavioral disorders.
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Food Intolerance and Food Allergies can rule over a person’s life. This following article by Lucy-Ann Prideaux describes the difference between Food Intolerance and an Allergic reaction and describes ways to help. She doesn’t mention e number’ed additives specifically, but there is talk of tartrazine, sodium benzoate, aspartame as well as additives, colourings and preservatives in general.

Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten and suspect they have a “food allergy�. However, only 2–5% of adults and 2–8% of children are truly “allergic� to certain foods. The remainder of people may be experiencing food intolerance, or food sensitivity, rather than true food allergy.
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Xanthan gum (or Zanthan Gum) is an emulsifier, lubricant, suspending agent and thickener. Commonly used in gluten free food to improve the texture and consistancy and is often found in sauces, salad dressings and sometimes cosmetics. The pages of the London South Bank University say that: Xanthan gum (E415) is a microbial desiccation-resistant polymer prepared commercially by aerobic submerged fermentation from Xanthomonas campestris. It is naturally produced to stick the bacteria to the leaves of cabbage-like plants. It is relatively expensive by weight but becoming rather less so.

I can’t seem to find anywhere that suggests any allergic reaction with Xanthan Gum, although some places say to watch for GM versions of Xanthan Gum.

Further Reading:

• E415 - Xanthan gum
• UK Food Guide
• London South Bank University