Food labelling Flashcards
What E numbers represent colour additives
E100s
Name two natural food colouring E numbers and the food they come from
E100 Curcumin
E162 Beetroot
E101 and E106 riboflavin
Name two artificial food colourings and what is a side effect of consuming them
E110 sunset yellow
E129 allure red
HYPERACTIVITY AND POOR CONCENTRATION
What E number is used for preservatives
E200s
List the three most common preservatives and what side effect are they linked to
E211: sodium benzoate - carbonated drinks, fruit jices, pickles
E220 sulphur dioxide - dried fruit, fruit juice, wine, sausages
E251 sodium nitrite - processed meats eg bacon/ham.
ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES
What E number is linked to antioxidants
E300s
Reduces chance of oils and fats turning rancid
What E numbers are used as emulsifiers/stabilisers and what is their role
E400s
mix ingredients that would separate eg milk and yoghurt
What E400 numbers are commonly associated with inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer
E433
E466
What E numbers are used as thickeners and gelling agents and how are they used and what side effects are they linked to
E440s
In soups, sauces, puddings.
Jellies, jams yogurts
BLOATING, CRAMPING, NAUSEA, FLATULENCE
What E numbers are used as flavour enhancers, name one and provide examples of food they’re used in. What side effects can they cause
E600s
crisps, processed meats, sport drinks.
E621 MSG
HEADACHES, SKIN FLUSHING, SEATING, HEART PAPLITATIONS
What E numbers are used as sweeteners
Name two natural and two synthetic
E900s
Natural: stevia and xylitol
Synthetic: aspartame and saccharin
How are artificial sweeteners categorised
INTENSE eg saccharin, aspartame, stevia.
BULK mainly sugar alcohols eg sorbitol and xylitol. Used for structure sensory and sweetness.
Can cause GIT upset
What are the effects of artificial sweeteners - aspartame, saccharin, ace K
Raise insulin/ affect insulin sensitivity
over stimulate sugar receptors
addictive
DNA damage
What is the safest alternative to sugar
STEVIA (plant derived)
where will you find benzoate preservatives E210-219
pre packed beetroot, jam, fruit juice, salad dressing, soft drinks, margarine
What are flavour packs
created from fruit essences and oils but broken down to individual chemical constituents and reassembled into new compound and added back into juice. Making them ARTIFICIAL but labelled as natural.
E407 carrageenan is a natural additive, name its
source
function
effects
Source: red seaweed
Function: Thickening, stabilising, gelling agent in condensed milks, jellies, nut milks
Effects: GI inflammation, bloating, bowel disease
E330 citric acid is a natural additive, name its
source
function
effects
Source - citrus fruit but manufactured using cheap GM high fructose corn syrup
Function - flavour and preserve biscuits, tinned sauces, fruit/veg, ice cream
Effects - GM ingredients, potential hazards to health
E926 chlorine dioxide is an additive, name its
source
function
effects
Source: synthetic
Function: bleaching and oxidising agent for flour, fats and oils, purification of water
Effects: decreases vitamin E content
E220 sulphur dioxide is an additive, name its
source
function
effects
Source: produced chemically
Function: preservative
Effects: impedes oxygen carrying capacity of haemoglobin. destroys B1 in food
What is a xenoestrogen and where can they be found
in BPA. It mimics oestrogen in the body - binding to oestrogen receptors disrupting normal function
HORMONE RELATED DISEASE EG BREAST CANCER AND FERTILITY ISSUES
List the plastics that should be avoided to minimise health risk
PET (drink bottles)
PVC (clingfilm)
Polystyrene (food trays)
Polycarbonates (baby bottles)
What is irratiation and why is it used
To prolong shelf life, kill bacteria
High energy electron beams, x rays or gamma rays
What foods are certified to be irradiated
Fuit and veg
cereals
bulbs and tubers
dried aromatic herbs
speices and seasonings
fish and shellfish
poultry
Is irradiation safe
During the process compounds called RADIOLYTIC PRODUCTS are formed, some of which are mutagens and carcinogens.
Toxic chemicals can be produced eg formaldehyde
Can have mutagenic effect on bacteria and viruses that survive - leading to more virulent strains.
Vitamin content reduced between 2 and 95%. Esp B1 and C
What are Dietary Reference Values
estimates concerning the amount of macronutrients, micronutrients and energy needed by different groups of healthy people. Set by male female and age brackets.
What is nutritional OPTIMAL intake
the intake that maximises physiological and mental function and minimises the development of degenerative diseases.
List the criteria for optimum nutrition
level that:
prevents deficiency symptoms
optimises body stores of nutrient
optimises biochemical and physiological function
minimises risk factor for chronic disease
minimises incidence of disease
Mandatory food fortification: what must all four be fortified with (except wholemeal, self raising and wheat malt)
Calcium carbonate
Iron
Thiamine
Nicotinic acid
Why is food fortification used by manufactureres
to replace the nutrients lost during processing e.g B vits and iron to breakfast cereals
What is the downside of fortification
mostly synthetic nutrients
doesn’t encourage healthy eating
no need to strip food of nutrients
portrays processed food as healthy
Why has the term Reference Intake replaced Guideline Daily Amount on food labels?
GDA suggested that the amounts given were targets, they were not. They are the maximum amount of cals, macronutrients and salt that should be consumed in a day
To be able to include a vitamin or mineral on the back of the pack labelling, what is the minimal amount of the nutrient it must contain
15% or more of the Nutrient Reference Value (NRV)
What does NRV stand for and what does it mean
Nutrient Value Intake - the daily quantities of vits/minerals required in diet to maintain good health
To claim ‘low fat’ what is the maximum amount of fat is allowed in a product
3g per 100g for solids, 1.5g per 100ml for liquid
name two natural colour additives with adverse effects
E160b annatto
headache, hives, sleep issues
cheese, crisps
E120 cochineal
severe allergic reaction. asthma
bakery
soups
Name two preservatives and their adverse effects
E240-252 nitrates and nitrites
carcinogenic, lupus, psoriasis
processed meat, cheese
E220 sulphur dioxide
impedes oxygen carrying capacity of haemoglobin
wheezing, mibrobiome
Name two antioxidant additives and adverse effects
E320 BHA
E321 BHT
endocrine disruptor, resp issues, carcinogenic
preserved meats, oils, cereals
Name a thickener additives and its adverse effects
E407 carrageenan
gut microbiome, inflammation
milks and dairy products
Name a flavour enhancer additives and its adverse effects
E621 MSG
Headache, depression, fatigue
stock cubes, takeaays, chips
Name two artificial sweeteners and adverse side effects
E950 ace K
headache, nausea, carcinogenic
chewing gum, baked goods, canned foods
E951 aspartame
irritability, depression, BBB carcinogenic
Diet drinks, sugar free products
