E172 - Iron Oxides And Hydroxides

Author: Marko Balašević Time for reading: ~1 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Iron dioxide is mainly used to color products in red, black and yellow. In Europe, it is used for coloring confectionery, chocolates, cakes and candies. It is non-toxic, moisture resistant, which prolongs the shelf life of the goods

Characteristic

Iron dioxide is mainly used to color products in red, black and yellow. In Europe, it is used for coloring confectionery, chocolates, cakes and candies. E 172 is used in the manufacture of cosmetics; it is non-toxic, it is moisture resistant, which prolongs the shelf life of the goods and products prepared on its basis.

Chemically developed dyes have their technological advantages. They are less sensitive to various influences and have a more saturated color. Natural dyes are generally non-toxic, but when reacted with oxygen, the products spoil quickly.

Use

They use E 172 as a raw material in the production of cast iron and as a catalyst for ammonia for production purposes, also for coloring cement mortars, for polishing glass and steel.

In the food industry: E 172 is used as a means of coloring products and changing their colors.

Prior to use, colorants are subjected to careful analyzes to assess their toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Artificial ones are devoid of taste and smell, they do not contain any vitamins that are useful for the human body.

Recommended daily dose: no more than 0.2-0.25 mg.

Impact on humans

Iron is useful in small quantities, an excess of it leads to many unpleasant consequences. Iron stimulates the production of free radicals and can cause severe tissue damage in heart attacks (strokes). The large amount of the element in the body can cause various cancers. People suffering from the genetic disease hemochromatosis (accumulation of iron in the liver) are more likely to develop liver cancer. Iron deficiency can cause diabetes, heart disease and hypothyroidism (thyroid disease), which are destructive factors for the normal functioning of the whole body.

E172 - Iron Oxides And Hydroxides

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Characteristic

Use

Impact on humans

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