E214 - E219 Parabens

The following preservatives and their salts belong to the PARABEN family, compounds produced synthetically from benzoic acid and used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries, as antibacterials and antifungals. Specifically, these compounds are:

• E214 ETHYL-PARA-OSSIBENZOATE or ETHYL PARAHYDROXYBENZOATE → this preservative derives from E210. May cause allergies, hyperactivity, asthma, urticaria, insomnia, anesthetizing and vasodilator effects, cramps in predisposed people. It is often used in cosmetics and drugs.
• E215 ETHYL-P-OSSIBENZOATE, sodium salt
• E216 PROPYL-P-OSSIBENZOATE or PARA IDROSSIBENZOATO DI PROPILE (PARABENE)
• E217 PROPYL-P-OSSIBENZOATE, sodium salt or PROPYL-P-HYDROXYBENZOATE OF SODIUM
• E218 METHYL P-OSSIBENZOATE or PARA-HYDROXYBENZOATE OF METHYL: may cause skin irritation due to allergy to this preservative (PARABENE).
• E219 METHYL P -OSSIBENZOATE, sodium salt or SODIUM METHYL-HYDROXYBENZOATE

Note: E215, E216, E217, E218 and E219 are thought to cause the same reactions described for E214.

On the toxicity of this family of preservatives there are divergent theories. These are preservatives that are generally excreted in the urine in the form of hippuric acid, so they usually do not accumulate in the human body; nevertheless, there are reasons to believe that they are not so harmless: in fact, it is thought that in the future they may even be prohibited.

It is thought that parabens can cause: gastric irritation with related digestive disorders, growth problems, insomnia, asthma, eye irritation, hives, hyperactivity, and allergic reactions in people sensitive to aspirin or suffering from asthma.

For the past 15 years, research has begun to see if there are any negative effects on reproductive organs and embryos.

It is therefore not recommended, for all the aforementioned reasons, the frequent consumption of foods containing parabens, especially by children.

ADI DOSE: 10mg per kg of body weight.