Food, sodium

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a colorless, rapidly acting, highly poisonous gas or liquid that has an odor of bitter almonds. Most HCN is used as an intermediate at the site of production. Major uses include the manufacture of nylons, plastics, and fumigants. Exposures to HCN may occur in industrial situations as well as from cigarette smoke, combustion products, and naturally occurring cyanide compounds in foods. Sodium nitroprusside (Na2[Fe(CN)5 N0]-2H20), which has been used as an antihypertensive in humans, breaks down into nonionized HCN. 

EPA. 2002J. Tolerances and exemptions ffom tolerances for pesticide chemicals in food. Sodium chlorite exemption ffom the requirement of a tolerance. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Code of Federal Regulations. 40 CFR 180.1070. http //ecffback.access.gpo.gov/. April 24, 2002. 

Sodium is important in the regulation of fluid balance within the body. Most sodium in the diet comes from the use of table salt, NaCI, to season and preserve foods. Sodium is also supplied by compounds such as sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate in baked goods. Sodium benzoate is a preservative in carbonated beverages. Sodium citrate and sodium glutamate are used in packaged foods as flavor additives. 

Lack of sufficient food sodium may result in joint stiffness, rheumatism, neuralgia, and bladder ailments. The hydrochloric acid in the stomach can t be made without sodium chloride. Sodium acts on the nerves, secretions, membranes, stomach, intestines, and pancreas. 

If you should ever need to increase your intake of food sodium,Table 3.3 lists some foods to consider. 

Succinic acid L-Tartaric acid Tetrasodium pyrophosphate Triethanolamine Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane buffer, processed food Sodium phosphate tribasic dodecahydrate buffer, solutions Sodium citrate buffer, supplements Sodium citrate buffer, tablets Sodium citrate buffer, textile baths Acetic acid buffer, textile dyeing Citric acid... 

Calcium behenate fat refining, food Diatomaceous earth fat rendering aid Sodium phosphate tribasic fat rendering aid, food Sodium carbonate Tannic acid fat replacer, food Whey protein... 

Sodium ascorbate fixative, color bacon curing Potassium nitrite fixative, color cured food Sodium nitrate Sodium nitrite fixative, color food... 

Cyclohexanone peroxide hog scald agent, animal feed Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous hog scald agent, food Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous homogenizer... 

Poly (hexamethylenebiguanide) hydrochloride preservative, cotton blends Poly (hexamethylenebiguanide) hydrochloride preservative, cough syrups Cetylpyridinium chloride preservative, creams/lotions Chlorhexidine digluconate Lichen (Usnea barbata) extract preservative, cured food Sodium nitrate Sodium nitrite preservative, curtains... 

Sodium diethylenetriamine penta (methylene phosphonate) sequestrant, derusting Sodium gluconate sequestrant, desalination Potassium hexamethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonate) sequestrant, detergents Ammonium polyaspartate Ethylenediaminetetra (methylene phosphonic acid) Hexasodium diethylenetriaminepenta (methylenephosphonate) Pentasodium diethylene triamine pentamethylene phosphonate Pentasodium ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate Pentasodium pentetate Pentasodium triphosphate 2-Phosphonobutane tricarboxylic acid-1,2,4 Sodium diethylenetriamine penta (methylene phosphonate) Sodium gluconate Tetrasodium etidronate Tetrasodium pyrophosphate sequestrant, diet food Sodium gluconate... 

Potassium persulfate Urea peroxide starch modifier, food Sodium persulfate Succinic anhydride starch modifier, industrial Chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride starch modifier, pulp/paper Peracetic acid starch modifier, textiles Chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimonium chloride starch prod. 

In foods, sodium and potassium are found mainly as free ions. The natural sodium content in foods is highly variable. In many foods of plant origin, sodium is a minority element. In contrast, the potassium content in some plant materials is extremely high and can reach up to 2% (e.g. in tea and roasted coffee). The sodium content can increase by several orders in salted foods, to which it is added in the form of table salt for preservation and to increase flavour. The contents of sodium and potassium and other majority elements in selected foods are summarised in Table 6.4. 

Uses Emulsifier, stabilizer in foods Sodium oleyl phosphate... 

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