FoodRecap

Pinoy food technologies, resources, news and reviews. Includes food safety and health issues

Advantages of Using Artificial Flavors and Colorings

Naturals are definitely healthier than artificial counterparts  but manufacturers are patronizing the latter. I tried to list reasons as they came across to my mind. 1) Consistent quality. Each mango in fruit basket has different properties. One is sweeter than the rest. Some are ripe and some are overripe. On the other hand artificial producer [...]

The Stability of Annatto Color Under Normal Condition

annatto seeds on cup

These are the annatto seeds I gathered from a bunch of native atsuete fruits. About ten fruits. The seeds are not in good condition cause some seeds are already black.  I got the fruits from the abandoned atsuete tree. I guessed it has stayed on tree for a long period. Environmental factors such as sun [...]

The Abandoned Atsuete / Annatto Tree !

atsuete annatto tagalog

I am going regularly to my uncles farm. I am getting some guyabano leaves for tea preparation. We are drinking guyabano leaf tea instead of coffee or any other hot drinks. Guyabano fruits, leaves and roots are claimed to be healthy and a cure for various cancer types. Read about guyabano here. A new fence [...]

Posibble Risks of Sunset Yellow, Allura Red, etc… (Six Food Colors)

food colors

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposed to amend the current permitted levels of some food colors. Quinoline yellow, Sunset yellow, Ponceau 4R, Tartrazine (E102), Azorubine/Carmoisine (E122) and Allura Red AC (E129) are the six colours that were used in a study undertaken by Southampton University that provided evidence for a possible link between the consumption [...]

Natural Red 4, Carmine Dye Side Effects

carmine dye source

In food, natural is generally regarded as safe. Some food manufacturers use the word natural on their food label as a form of marketing strategy. Natural is also related to the term organic, no chemicals or artificial preservatives. I have a previous post about Eleven Natural Food Colorings, a list of naturally derived food colors. [...]

Sodium Benzoate, Uses and Side Effects

benzoate molecule

Many countries banned the use of sodium benzoate.  The said food preservative may  cause hyperactivity behavior when mix with certain kind of artificial colors. From the UK Food Standard Agency: Benzene has been detected sporadically at low levels in some soft drinks. It is thought that this occurs as a result of an interaction between [...]

Sodium Citrate and Citric Acid in Beverages ?

sodium citrate and citric acid

Notice the two food additives written below. Citric acid and Sodium Citrate. The whole ingredient list came from canned soft drink. Citric acid is a natural food preservative. It act by lowering the food pH making most microorganisms unable to grow in medium. But it doesn’t apply to yeast and other acid loving fungi. It [...]