Ingredient Glossary - S
silicon dioxide: Also known as silica or silox. Silica is most commonly found in nature as sand or quartz, as well as in the cell walls of diatoms. It is a principal component of most types of glass and substances such as concrete. Used as a food additive, primarily as a flow agent in powdered foods, or to absorb water.
sodium acid pyrophosphate: Also known as Disodium pyrophosphate. It is a buffering and binding agent used in canned seafood, as a scald agent in poultry and pork, as a sequestrant (a chemical which holds metals in solution and helps prevent scaling) in potato products, and is used to aid leavening in baked goods. In leather treatment it can be used to remove iron stains on hides during processing. It can stabilize hydrogen peroxide solutions against oxidation. It can be used for cleaning with sulfamic acid in some dairy applications. In petroleum production, it can be used as a dispersant in oil well drilling muds. Disodium pyrophosphate is also found in hash browns (frozen) to keep the color of the potatoes from fading.
sodium alginate: A gum extracted from the cell walls of brown algae. It is used by the food industry to increase viscosity and as an emulsifier. It is also used in indigestion tablets and the preparation of dental impressions. Sodium alginate has no discernible flavor. Another major use of sodium alginate is reactive dye printing, where it is used in the textile industry.
sodium aluminosilica: often added as an anticaking agent to various products including table salt and other food products (such as meal replacement shakes), powders, and house paints to prevent the formation of large crystals or lumps. Also used for its detergent properties in silicated soaps, in fabric washing powders, for dishwashers, for cleaning metals, for washing bottles. For their binding properties: in cardboard and paper making, in the production of refractory and insulating materials, in the timber, fertilizer and welding electrode industries, in casting for sand molding, for ground consolidation, for fire protection; For removing ink from waste paper, in water treatment, in ore flotation, for production of special cements and of cracking and zeolite catalysts.
sodium ascorbate: Vitamin C. Antioxidant, nutrient, color stabilizer. Used in cereals, fruit drinks, cured meats. Ascorbic acid helps maintain the red color of cured meat and prevents the formation of nitrosamines, which promote cancer. It helps prevent loss of color and flavor by reacting with unwanted oxygen. It is used as a nutrient additive in drinks and breakfast cereals. Sodium ascorbate is a more soluble form of ascorbic acid.
sodium carbonate: Also known as washing soda or soda ash. It has a cooling alkaline taste, and can be extracted from the ashes of many plants. It is synthetically produced in large quantities from table salt. In cooking, it is sometimes used in place of sodium hydroxide for lying, especially with German pretzels and lye rolls. Sodium carbonate is a food additive used as an acidity regulator, anticaking agent, raising agent and stabilizer. It is one of the components of kansui, a solution of alkaline salts used to give ramen noodles their characteristic flavor and texture. It is also used in the production of sherbet. Sodium carbonate's most important use is in the chemical make-up of glass. It is a common additive in municipal pools used to neutralize the acidic effects of chlorine and raise pH. It is used to encapsulate and kill mold; in toothpastes, where it acts as a foaming agent, an abrasive, and to temporarily increase mouth pH.
sodium caseinate: Thickening and whitening agent in Ice cream, ice milk, sherbet, coffee creamers. Casein, the principal protein in milk, is a nutritious protein containing adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids. People who are allergic to casein should read food labels carefully, because the additive is used in some “non-dairy” and “vegetarian” foods. Utilization Properties: The Film-Coat Formation, Thickening, Stabilization, Gelling, Emulsification, Fat Blocking, Water Absorption, Adhesive Blocking, Dough Formation. The nutrient value of flours, cereals and baked goods is improved by Lysine-rich Sodium Caseinate. Texture workability is improved. In yeast-raised goods -- doughnuts, muffins, waffles, uniformity is insured. In deep-fried goods -- doughnuts, crullers, the excess absorption of fat is aided by the fat-blocking agent. Emulsifies and stabilizes milk shake/drink bases. Performs as a stabilizing factor in diabetic ice cream, as well as being low in calories and high in nutrients. The agents of Sodium Caseinate in ice cream production enhance longevity and minimize shrinkage. Sodium Caseinate is a factor in binding processed meats -- sausages, luncheon meat, liverworst, meat loaves. It also acts as an emulsifier for fat. For wines, Sodium Caseinate behaves as a coagulant and clarifier.
sodium citrate: Possesses a saline, mildly tart, flavor. For this reason, citrates of certain alkaline and alkaline earth metals (e.g. sodium and calcium citrates) are commonly known as sour salt. Sodium citrate is chiefly used as a food additive, usually for flavor or as a preservative. Sodium citrate is employed as a flavoring agent in certain varieties of club soda. Sodium citrate is common as an ingredient in lemon-lime and citrus soft drinks, contributing to their tart tastes, and can also be found in such energy drinks as Rockstar and Red Bull.
Sodium Erythorbate: It is a chemical compound made from sugars such as beet and cane. Used predominantly in the meat, poultry, and soft drink food industry. When used in processed meat such as hot dogs and beef sticks, this compound reduces the rate at which nitrate reduces to nitric oxide, thus retaining the pink coloring. As an antioxidant it helps improve flavor stability similar to that of Vitamin C, and helps prevent the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines.
Sodium Nitrite: Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative, coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and nitrite and cancer in humans.
Sodium Phosphate A generic term for the salts of sodium and phosphate. Sodium phosphates are a commonly used as food additives. They are added to many foods as an emulsifier to prevent oil separation. Some examples are processed cheeses, processed meats, ready-made meals and tinned (canned) soups. Sodium phosphates are also commonly added to powdered soups, bouillons and gravy mixtures. They can also be used as a leavening agent. Some examples of these foods include the batter coating on breaded fish or chicken and commercially baked cakes. Adding sodium phosphates to food increases the shelf life of the food, maintaining the texture and appearance of the food. Some people may be unable to tolerate eating foods containing sodium phosphates. A reaction to sodium phosphate may be the result of a condition called hypocalcemia, a deficiency of calcium in the blood which results in an electrolyte disturbance. Symptoms of a reaction may include headache, stiff neck and shoulder muscles, foot cramps and sudden onset of fatigue. These symptoms may be alleviated by taking a calcium-based antacid or other form of calcium supplement and drinking lots of water.
sodium selenite: This salt is a source of selenium in many food supplements. Sodium selenite is listed in the material safety data sheets from U.S. Environmental Health and Safety as a dangerous poison in large amounts. Its toxicity is similar to that for arsenic. Although selenium is poisonous, it should be noted that selenium is an essential element, albeit in small amounts.
sodium steroyl lactylate: An emulsifier used as a dough strengthener in baked goods. An organic compound used as a food additive. It is made by combining lactic acid and stearic acid, and then reacting the result with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to make the sodium or calcium salt. It is used as an emulsifier in processed foods.
sodium sulfite: A soluble compound of sodium. Sodium sulfite is primarily used in the pulp and paper industry. It is used in water treatment as an oxygen scavenger agent, in the photographic industry to protect developer solutions from oxidation and (as hypo clear solution) to wash fixer (sodium thiosulfate) from film and photo-paper emulsions, in the textile industry as a bleaching, desulfurizing and dechlorinating agent and in the leather trade for the sulfitization of tanning extracts. It is used in the purification of TNT for army use. It is used in other applications, including ore flotation, oil recovery, food preservatives, making dyes, and detergent.
sodium tripolyphosphate: STPP, sometimes STP is used in various applications such as a preservative for seafood, meats, poultry and pet foods. It is also used in toothpaste and as a builder in soaps and detergents, improving their cleansing ability. In foods, STPP is used to retain moisture. Many people find STPP to add an unpleasant taste to food, particularly delicate seafood. The taste tends to be slightly sharp and soapy and is particularly detectable in mild-tasting foods. The increased water holding properties can also lead to a more diluted flavor in the food.
Sorbitan Monostearate: Also known as Span 60. It is sometimes referred to as a synthetic wax. It is primarily used as an emulsifier to keep water and oils mixed.. It is also employed to create synthetic fibers, metal machining fluid, brighteners in the leather industry, as an emulsifier in coatings, in pesticides, and various applications for the plastic, food and cosmetics industries.
sorbitol: Also known as glucitol, is a sugar alcohol that the body metabolizes slowly. Sorbitol is used in various cough syrups and "sugar-free" mints. It is a sugar substitute often used in diet foods (including diet drinks and ice cream) and sugar-free chewing gum. It also occurs naturally in many stone fruits and berries from trees of the genus Sorbus. Sorbitol is also referred to as a nutritive sweetener because it provides dietary energy: 2.6 calorieas per gram versus the average 4 calories of sugar and starch, while retaining 60% of the sweetness. As a food additive it is categorized as a sweetener, emulsifier and humectant. Sorbitol can be used as a non-stimulant laxative as either an oral suspension or suppository. The drug works by drawing water into the large intestine, thereby stimulating bowel movements. Ingesting large amounts of sorbitol can lead to some abdominal pain, gas, and mild to severe diarrhea. Diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy may be related to excess sorbitol in the cells of the eyes and nerves. Sorbitol is often used in modern cosmetics as a humectant and thickener.
soy protein concentrate: Made by removing a portion of the carbohydrates (sugars) from dehulled and defatted soybeans. Soy protein is used in a variety of foods such as salad dressings, soups, imitation meats, beverage powders, cheeses, non-dairy creamer, frozen desserts, whipped topping, breads, breakfast cereals, pastas, and pet foods. It is used for emulsification and texturizing. Specific applications include adhesives, asphalts, resins, cleaning materials, cosmetics, inks, pleather, paints, paper coatings, pesticides/fungicides, plastics, polyesters and textile fibers. Soy is rated as the second most allergenic foods to humans; the first being peanuts. Soy is also rich in estrogenic compounds, however, research is conflicting as to whether or not it can cause increases in estrogen in men. Studies have found that in fact these compounds compete with estrogen for estrogen-receptors, leading to cognitive impairment in men.
Spice Extract: Spice Extract represents the "true essence of the spice" and consists of the volatile essential oil and the nonvolatile resinous fraction containing the taste components and pigments. Spice Extracts can replace spice powder in food and flavor formulation without imparting any flavor characteristics. Spice Extract is recovered from the spice by solvent extraction.
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