The food additive-emulsifier E476, also referred to as polyglycerol, poliricinoleates, refers to stabilizing agents and is a fatty acid compound. Due to its addition to the composition, the food products retain their viscosity and, moreover, their consistency improves.
Often an E476 supplement is used in chocolate and other products, although it does not have an unequivocal effect on the body. This additive is officially authorized in most countries of the world, although some researchers claim that it is not entirely safe for health.
Obtain polyglycerin from vegetable oils, usually from castor seeds or castor oil seeds. However, recently E476 has been quite often produced by processing genetically modified products (GMOs).
Scope of food stabilizer E476
After processing of vegetable oils, a fat colorless substance without odor and taste is obtained, due to which certain products acquire the necessary properties. Often lecithin Е476 is used in the manufacture of chocolate in order to reduce its cost price. The level of fusibility of this dainty directly depends on the content of cocoa butter in it, which is quite expensive. However, if you add to the stabilizer E476, the fluidity and fat content of chocolate will be high enough and the price will be much cheaper. In addition, chocolate, which includes E476, has improved streamlining properties, which is ideal for making bars with different fillings.
E476 in chocolate - the effect on the human body
To date, there is no official evidence that the food stabilizer E476 is seriously harmful to human health. However, do not forget that this additive was obtained by processing genetically modified plants. Often using products that contain E476, it is possible that this can lead to changes in the body at the gene level.
In addition, some studies have shown that this product can adversely affect the metabolism, leading to overweight. Also, frequent use leads to an increase in the liver and impaired kidney function.
It is worth noting that there is a safer substitute for polyglycerin, which is also widely used, is soy lecithin E322.