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Pectins (E440)

Pectins (E440) is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as ultra-processed (NOVA group 4).

What it is and why it counts

Pectins are gelling agents extracted from citrus peel or apple pomace. Fruit contains pectin naturally, but the additive is a purified extract.

Cosmetic additives

NOVA calls these additives "cosmetic": they change how a product looks, feels or tastes rather than keeping it safe to eat. Their presence is one of the two defining signs of an ultra-processed food.

Function

Emulsifier
Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
Stabiliser
Stabilisers are substances which make it possible to maintain the physico-chemical state of a foodstuff; stabilisers include substances which enable the maintenance of a homogenous dispersion of two or more immiscible substances in a foodstuff, substances which stabilise, retain or intensify an existing colour of a foodstuff and substances which increase the binding capacity of the food, including the formation of cross-links between proteins enabling the binding of food pieces into re-constituted food.
Thickener
Thickeners are substances which increase the viscosity of a foodstuff.

Functional class definitions from the EU food additives regulation, via Open Food Facts.

More about pectins (E440) on Wikidata

Where it turns up

Pectins (E440) appears in 1,451 of the 40,000 products on this site (4%).

Products containing pectins (E440)

Showing the 60 most popular of 1,451.

How the NOVA classification works