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Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide
What is it:
Zinc oxide is a white, odorless powder that is commonly used in various food applications as a food additive. It is primarily used as a mineral nutrient supplement (zinc) and a food colorant (white pigment). In food production, zinc oxide is produced through a controlled chemical reaction between zinc and oxygen. This process typically involves heating zinc metal to a specific temperature in the presence of oxygen, resulting in the formation of zinc oxide particles. Zinc oxide can be added to foods, such as breakfast cereals and nutrition bars, to fortify them with essential zinc and enhance their visual appeal by providing a white coloring agent.
Rating:
Zinc is an essential mineral required for various physiological functions in the human body and zinc oxide as an additive can help ensure adequate levels. Although zinc oxide nanoparticles have been considered safe, some researchers have raised concerns about the intricate nature of the gastrointestinal system and the unknown synergistic effects that may occur when nanoparticles are introduced into food. A study combining zinc oxide nanoparticles and vitamin C demonstrated an increased cytotoxic effect on epithelial cells in comparison to zinc oxide alone, suggesting that the toxicological evaluation of nanoparticles as single additives may not fully demonstrate their safety in a much more complex system. More research on nanoparticles can help determine their safety in food consumption.
Resources:
How we rate ingredients
Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:
Clean
It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.
Caution
It goes into one or more of the below categories
- It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
- It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)
We Avoid
It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)
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