Sprite is the fourth most popular beverage among drinks and attracts customers in 190 countries. For the first time, residents of the cities of Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia, learned about the lemon soda drink. For 53 years, the green bottle has been the embodiment of the philosophy of quenching thirst.
Manufacturers on the Sprite label report the presence in this drink of drinking water, sugar, sodium benzonate, sodium citrate, citric acid, aspartame and acesulfame K. And if water and sugar do not require special knowledge to understand the purpose and effect of the component, the rest of the components need clarification …
Sodium benzonate, or E211
Sodium benzonate is one of the most popular preservatives to increase the shelf life of foods. Thanks to him, the development of bacteria and yeast cells is inhibited. It should be noted that in its natural form, it is found in cranberries, raisins, apples and cinnamon.
White crystals of a water-soluble substance have a sweetish taste and are resistant to high temperatures. Increasing the effectiveness of the preservative is achieved by creating an acidic environment with pH values ranging from 3, 8 to 4, 5.
Sodium benzonate has a negative effect on the body when it forms the carcinogen benzene. This process is triggered by interaction with ascorbic acid, under the influence of light and high temperatures. The danger of benzene is that it damages the DNA structure, provoking the development of neurodegenerative diseases and cirrhosis of the liver.
The safe daily intake is 5 mg / kg body weight. In a duet with artificially synthesized dyes, it negatively affects the mental development of children, therefore, it has gained close attention of scientists in the search for an alternative.
Citric acid - E330
For the first time, they learned about citric acid in 1784, when it was synthesized by a scientist from Sweden Karl Scheele. A universal additive has become widespread due to its ability to simultaneously play the role of a preservative, acidity regulator and flavoring agent.
The use of citric acid is allowed in all countries, it has a positive effect on the human body within acceptable limits. Excessive consumption leads to a violation of the integrity of the tooth enamel and the development of caries.
E331, known as sodium citrate
Sodium citrate is a representative of the group of emulsifiers and stabilizers. It is legally used all over the world, does not have a negative effect on the body. Besides Sprite, it can be found in lime and lemon flavored drinks.
10 times sweeter than sugar
Acesulfame potassium (E950) is a white crystalline powder with a pronounced sweet taste. Its sweetness is 10 times that of sugar and 200 times that of sucrose. The advantage of using it is not only excessive sweetness, but also the fact that it does not cause tooth decay and does not require the involvement of insulin in the absorption process. Due to this, it is widely used in the preparation of diabetic and low-calorie foods.
Who's the sweetest here?
E951 - aspartame, a food additive, the sweetness of which is 200 times higher than sugar. At temperatures above 30 ° C, it forms highly toxic methanol and formaldehyde, which has a negative effect on the body. This fact should be taken into account when purchasing drinks that were subject to improper storage. Sprite lovers should know about another property of aspartame - it is not able to quench thirst and, on the contrary, only enhances it.
