E230 - Biphenyl or Diphenyl

Diphenyl is an aromatic compound; from a chemical point of view, it consists of two benzene rings joined by a carbon-carbon bond (CC). It is a substance that at room temperature appears as a colorless crystalline solid, insoluble in water but soluble in many organic solvents.

This preservative, of synthetic origin, is used in the food industry mainly for the anti-mold treatment of citrus peel, and for the material used for packaging them; at the same time, it also extends the shelf-life of citrus fruits a lot. It is used mainly against fungi of the genus Penicillium, fungi that usually grow on these fruits.

When you read the inscription: "untreated citrus fruits" refers to the absence of this Bifenile. It is recommended in fact to consume this type of citrus fruit (especially if one uses, for any culinary preparation (cakes, limoncello, the ...) of the rind); if the "treated" ones are consumed, it is good practice to wash your hands thoroughly after peeling them and before consuming the pulp. Despite all the precautions, a small part of the preservative can still penetrate inside the fruit, but this should not create any problem for the consumer.

The literature reports that workers employed in the field of citrus shipments (by ship or by truck), exposed for a long time to this preservative, presented a certain sensitivity to the diphenyl, complaining of allergic reactions, nausea, vomiting, eye irritation and to the nasal mucous membranes.

Apart from this, there are no significant side effects, also because the diphenyl is a compound that is excreted by the kidneys in unchanged form.

It has been banned in Australia.

ADI DOSE: 0.05 mg / kg of body weight per day.