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All substances added to food have an E number, it is simply an internationally recognised system of labelling additives; so yes, emulsifiers have E numbers, for instance E322 is an emulsifier called lecithin, a substance which is present in all living cells; the form added to food as E322 is usually extracted from soya bean oil, but can also come from egg yolks, peanuts, or some animal resources. Emulsifiers are added to foods as a way of combining fats and oils - without an emulsifier, mayonaisse wouldn't look very appetising as a layer of oil would be floating on the top.

Not all E numbers are necessarily 'bad', for instance:

  • E100 (circumin) is an orange/yellow food dye extracted from the turmeric plant

but

  • E102 (tartrazine) is a synthetic yellow azo dye (related to coal tar) which causes behavioral and allergy problems in some people.
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13y ago

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