A foaming agent is a substance that makes it possible to form a homogenous dispersion of a gaseous phase in a liquid or solid food. On labels, this group is usually written as “foaming agent (941)”, or by the E or INS code of the substance.
Vietnam regulates additives through a list of permitted additives (Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, referencing international Codex standards); a substance not on the list is not permitted in Vietnam, and that is the first tier of the Yenzo Scale — see how levels are set.
Very low risk: no concern at the levels used in food. How we score →
Fun fact. Quillaia extract (E 999), which EFSA describes as an emulsifier and foaming agent, comes from a tree. It is obtained by aqueous extraction of the milled inner bark or wood of Quillaja saponaria Molina, or other Quillaja species, trees of the family Rosaceae. The extract contains a number of triterpenoid saponins that are glycosides of quillaic acid. After extraction come clarification, filtration, ultrafiltration, concentration and pasteurisation. The product is sold commercially as a liquid or as a spray-dried powder. Source: Re-evaluation of Quillaia extract (E 999) as a food additive and safety of the proposed extension of use (EFSA Journal, 2019)
Foaming agents are used in foods that need foam, or need gas kept evenly dispersed in a liquid or solid. According to the Yenzo page for E290, carbon dioxide is common in fizzy drinks, sparkling mineral water, soda and beer. Each code has its own page listing the products where it is usually found.
Labels usually write the group name followed by the INS number in brackets, for example “foaming agent (941)”, or the code E941, or the name of the substance (nitrogen). A substance may be written in any of these ways.
Yenzo does not rank additives. Some codes of this group that have a page on Yenzo: E290 (carbon dioxide), E401 (sodium alginate), E473 (sucrose esters of fatty acids), E941 (nitrogen), E999 (quillaia extract). All of them are named in Appendix 1 of Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT.
Are there foaming agents in your product?
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