Is Sodium Erythorbate Bad For You?
Also Known As: the sodium salt of erythorbic acid
Short answer
Sodium erythorbate has little to no nutritional benefit. Although most aren't affected by consumption of the additive, it has been linked with allergic reactions, gout-like symptoms, and kidney stones (in those with a past history of kidney stones).
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Every morning millions of people grab bacon out of the refrigerator and fry it up for breakfast, but how often do we take the time to look at the list of ingredients that make up the bacon? If you do, you’ll notice an ingredient with a hard to pronounce name: sodium erythorbate. What is this strange chemical doing in my bacon you say?
Sodium erythorbate is the sodium salt of erythorbic acid and has the chemical formula C6H7NaO6. It is a white or yellowish powder that is made from the sugars of a variety of plants such as beets, sugar cane, and corn. While it has little to no nutritional value, it is valued in the food industry as an antioxidant. This means it is able to inhibit oxidation (for example, when cut apples turn brown). Because of this property, it is commonly used as a preservative in a large number of foods including meat, fish, beverages, fruits and vegetables. In beer and wine, it works to prevent secondary fermentation which can alter the taste of the drink. While it can help preserve foods and drinks, its main use in the food industry is as a cure accelerator to speed up the development of the pink color in cured meats, and as an additive to help retain the pink color and flavor of processed meats.
One of the benefits of using sodium erythorbate in processed meats is its ability to prevent the formation of nitrosamines, a known cancer agent. These nitrosamines are the result of the use of sodium nitrates and nitrites in processed meats. The use of sodium erythorbate slows the formation of nitrosamines in processed meats.
Ingested, sodium erythorbate is converted into vitamin C and, unless you are specifically allergic to it, there are no real negative effects from ingestion. In the rare chance that you are allergic to sodium erythorbate, you may experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, body flushing, and hemolysis. So the next time you munch on some processed meats and start feeling any of the above symptoms, make a note. There have been no reported cases of hospitalization due to consumption of sodium erythorbate.
Also important to note: People with a history of kidney stones and/or gout may want to avoid consuming foods containing sodium erythorbate. Excessive amounts of sodium erythorbate in a person’s diet can increase the levels of acidic compounds which can trigger both kidney stone formation and gout.
The next time you go to the supermarket to buy something for breakfast, take a look at the ingredients and see if it contains sodium erythorbate.
Possible short-term side effects
- headaches
-
dizziness
-
fatigue
-
body flushing
-
hemolysis
Possible long-term side effects
- kidney stones (in people with a history of kidney stones)
-
trigger gout symptoms (in people with a history of gout)
Commonly found in
- processed meats
-
poultry
-
soft drinks
Benefits
- maintains meat flavor and color
-
decreases chance of nitrosamines forming
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Written by Desmond Richard
Published on: 06-27-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Desmond Richard
Published on: 06-27-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
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