E133, E210, E-wwww

How many of us really know what’s in our food?

By Stacy Kidd

Celebrities, campaigns, and informative guides have all tried to help alert the public to the dangers of additives and saturated fats, yet we’re still far from the natural and organic palate most of us are striving to achieve.

In particular, E-numbers have caused a stir for a good few years now. Despite the banning of some, there are still a great many present in our everyday favorite drinks and foodstuffs: candy bars, fizzy drinks, crackers, and more.

For example, E102 (also known as ‘Tartrazine’) is used to color jams, cereals and drinks. It also happens to be banned in Norway and Austria, as it has been linked to thyroid tumours, chromosomal damage and asthma. Worrying? I certainly think so.

Not all e-numbers are harmful to the human body, though whenever I happen to come by an E-number on a product I find in the supermarket, I will still flinch, and occasionally put it back on the shelf. In addition, a great many manufacturers are phasing out their E-numbers and replacing these with natural colors and/or flavorings (Nestle Smarties being a prime example). This can only be a good thing for both manufacturer trust and consumer health.

Unfortunately, more organic foodstuffs tend to be priced higher than their ready-meal counterparts, an obvious testament to the cheap cost of mass production. Although the special offer on ready-made lasagna may seem tempting at first, remember that even though your purse won’t pay for it in the long run; but your body certainly will.

For more information regarding food and cosmetic additives, I recommend visiting Explore E-Numbers and CureZone.com for a list of E-numbers, and their associated side effects.