Magnesium oxide is a non-toxic and harmless white powder that is widely used in the food industry. According to GB 2760-2014 “Standards for the Use of Food Additives”, magnesium oxide can be used as a food additive in the following aspects:
Nutritional fortifier: Magnesium oxide is a good source of magnesium and can be used to supplement the magnesium content in foods. Magnesium is an essential mineral for the human body and participates in a variety of physiological processes, such as energy metabolism, protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, etc.
pH adjuster: Magnesium oxide is alkaline and can be used to adjust the pH of food to a desired range. For example, in ice cream production, magnesium oxide is used to adjust the pH of the ice cream, making it more stable and preventing crystallization.
Anti-caking agent: Magnesium oxide is hygroscopic and can be used to prevent food from clumping. For example, in the production of milk powder, magnesium oxide can be used to prevent milk powder from clumping and allowing it to maintain good fluidity.
Color stabilizer: Magnesium oxide can be used to prevent food from discoloring. For example, in fruit and vegetable processing, magnesium oxide can be used to prevent browning of fruits and vegetables.
Specifically, the main applications of magnesium oxide in food additives include the following:
In sugar refining, magnesium oxide can be used as a decolorizing agent to remove impurities in sugar, making it purer and whiter.
In the production of ice cream powder, magnesium oxide can be used as a pH regulator to adjust the pH of ice cream powder, making it more stable and preventing crystallization.
In foods such as wheat flour, milk powder, chocolate, cocoa powder, grape powder, sugar powder, etc., magnesium oxide can be used as an anti-caking agent to prevent food from agglomerating and maintain good fluidity.
In fruit and vegetable processing, magnesium oxide can be used as a color stabilizer to prevent browning of fruits and vegetables.
In some health foods, magnesium oxide can be used as a magnesium supplement to help the body replenish magnesium.
It should be noted that the amount of magnesium oxide used in food should comply with national standards. Excessive intake of magnesium oxide may cause side effects such as diarrhea.