Sodium bicarbonate E500
What is food additives?
In the European Union all food additives are identified by an E number. They are always included in the ingredients
lists of foods in which they are used. Product labels must identify both the function of the additive in the finished
food product (e.g. colour, preservative) and the specific substance used either by referring to the E number or its name (e.g. E300 or Ascorbic acid).
Which substances are authorised and how?
Food additives can be used in foods and are authorised for human consumption if they do not pose a risk
to the consumer at the applied level of use.
Under EU legislation, the authorisation procedure starts with submission of a formal request to the European commission
consisting of an application dossier on the substance, containing scientific data on its proposed uses and use levels.
After an evaluation of the safety of the substance by the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), the European Commission
decides whether or not to authorise the additive for the intended uses.
The substance is then included in the EU list of permitted food additives.
Their roles
Here is a list of the main green additives that we use in our products and their roles
Ascorbic acid E300
It participates in the strengthening of the gluten network to improve the strength and workability of the dough, therefore to ensure good volume and improve the structure.
It is a raising agent which when heated releases carbon dioxide that makes breads and cakes rise.
Pectin E440
It’s a starch that occurs naturally in the cell walls of fruits like apple for example. It is, in fact, the very thing that gives them structure. When mixed with water and cooked to a high temperature, it forms a gel. It enables the thickening of the fruit fillings, creams, etc. It is what makes jams develop a semi-solid texture when they cool.
Acidity regulators (E330, etc..)
They lower the pH to avoid the undesirable bacterial developments. They can also be used to activate the raising agent. The best known acidity regulator is citric acid (E330).
Lecithin E322
It’s an emulsifier. Emulsifiers are molecules with one water-loving (hydrophilic) and one oil-loving (hydrophobic) end. They make it possible for water and oil to become finely dispersed in each other, creating a stable, homogenous, smooth emulsion. They are used in creams, chocolate or margarines. Emulsifiers can be found in egg yolks for mayonnaise or in oil plant such as soy, colza and sunflower.
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VEGAN CROISSANT
As delicious as a classic French croissant, our vegan croissants have a reduced ingredient list without any controversial additives