Blog 1 - INS – Dhrona Millet Foods

What Does INS Mean in Food Labels?

Have you ever flipped a packaged food product and seen something like “INS 330” or “Contains INS 621” in the ingredients list? If you’ve wondered what these mysterious codes mean, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down for you.

🌍What is INS?

INS stands for International Numbering System for food additives. It’s a global coding system created by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a joint body of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The aim is to create a universal reference system for food additives used across the world.

🧪 Why Are Food Additives Used?

Food additives are substances added to food to improve:

Shelf life (preservatives)

Flavor (flavor enhancers)

Color (coloring agents)

Texture (emulsifiers and stabilizers)

These additives are given INS numbers to standardize identification across countries, even when the common names differ.

⚠️ Long-Term Consumption – A Word of Caution

While food additives approved by authorities are generally safe in small quantities, regular or excessive consumption of highly processed foods with multiple additives can pose health concerns over time.

🧯 Possible Long-Term Effects:

Gut health disruption from emulsifiers and preservatives

Increased risk of metabolic disorders from artificial sweeteners

Potential links between synthetic colorants and hyperactivity in children

Cumulative chemical load on the liver and kidneys over years

Here are 20+ Common Food Additives You Eat Every Day

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1. INS 100 – Curcumin

Found in: Mustard, sauces, snacks

Harms: Generally safe, but high doses may cause stomach upset

2. INS 102 – Tartrazine (Yellow 5)

Found in: Soft drinks, candies

Harms: Hyperactivity, allergic reactions

3. INS 110 – Sunset Yellow FCF

Found in: Ice creams, desserts

Harms: Possible allergic reactions, hyperactivity

4. INS 120 – Cochineal (Carmine)

Found in: Yogurt, candies

Harms: Allergic reactions in sensitive individuals

5. INS 124 – Ponceau 4R

Found in: Jams, desserts

Harms: Potential carcinogen, allergic reactions

6. INS 133 – Brilliant Blue FCF

Found in: Drinks, candies, jelly

Harms: Hyperactivity, potential skin reactions

7. INS 150d – Caramel IV

Found in: Cola drinks, soy sauce

Harms: May contain contaminants linked to cancer

8. INS 160b – Annatto

Found in: Cheese, butter

Harms: Rare allergic reactions

9. INS 200 – Sorbic acid

Found in: Baked goods, cheese

Harms: May irritate skin and eyes

10. INS 202 – Potassium sorbate

Found in: Jams, wine, baked goods

Harms: Skin irritation, nausea

11. INS 211 – Sodium benzoate

Found in: Soft drinks, pickles

Harms: Linked to hyperactivity, may form benzene

12. INS 220 – Sulphur dioxide

Found in: Dried fruits, wine

Harms: Asthma attacks, headaches

13. INS 249 – Potassium nitrite

Found in: Cured meats

Harms: Can form carcinogenic nitrosamines

14. INS 270 – Lactic acid

Found in: Dairy, pickles, beverages

Harms: Generally safe

15. INS 296 – Malic acid

Found in: Fruit-flavored candy, drinks

Harms: High amounts may cause digestive discomfort

16. INS 322 – Lecithin

Found in: Chocolates, margarine

Harms: Generally safe

17. INS 330 – Citric acid

Found in: Soft drinks, sour candies

Harms: Tooth enamel erosion in excess

18. INS 334 – Tartaric acid

Found in: Effervescent drinks, baking powder

Harms: May cause gastrointestinal upset in high doses

19. INS 415 – Xanthan gum

Found in: Salad dressings, sauces

Harms: Bloating, gas in sensitive individuals

20. INS 551 – Silicon dioxide

Found in: Powdered spices, salt, coffee creamers

Harms: Generally safe; excessive inhalation (in industry) may be harmful

21. INS 621 – Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

Found in: Soups, chips, Chinese food

Harms: Headaches, nausea (in sensitive individuals)

22. INS 951 – Aspartame

Found in: Diet sodas, sugar-free gums

Harms: Headaches, controversial links to neurological effects

S.No	INS Number	Name	Commonly Found In	Harms
1	100	Curcumin	Mustard, sauces, snacks	Generally safe, but high doses may cause stomach upset
2	102	Tartrazine (Yellow 5)	Soft drinks, candies	Hyperactivity, allergic reactions
3	110	Sunset Yellow FCF	Ice creams, desserts	Possible allergic reactions, hyperactivity
4	120	Cochineal (Carmine)	Yogurt, candies	Allergic reactions in sensitive individuals
5	124	Ponceau 4R	Jams, desserts	Potential carcinogen, allergic reactions
6	133	Brilliant Blue FCF	Drinks, candies, jelly	Hyperactivity, potential skin reactions
7	150d	Caramel IV	Cola drinks, soy sauce	May contain contaminants linked to cancer
8	160b	Annatto	Cheese, butter	Rare allergic reactions
9	200	Sorbic acid	Baked goods, cheese	May irritate skin and eyes
10	202	Potassium sorbate	Jams, wine, baked goods	Skin irritation, nausea
11	211	Sodium benzoate	Soft drinks, pickles	Linked to hyperactivity, may form benzene
12	220	Sulphur dioxide	Dried fruits, wine	Asthma attacks, headaches
13	249	Potassium nitrite	Cured meats	Can form carcinogenic nitrosamines
14	270	Lactic acid	Dairy, pickles, beverages	Generally safe
15	296	Malic acid	Fruit-flavored candy, drinks	High amounts may cause digestive discomfort
16	322	Lecithin	Chocolates, margarine	Generally safe
17	330	Citric acid	Soft drinks, sour candies	Tooth enamel erosion in excess
18	334	Tartaric acid	Effervescent drinks, baking powder	May cause gastrointestinal upset in high doses
19	415	Xanthan gum	Salad dressings, sauces	Bloating, gas in sensitive individuals
20	551	Silicon dioxide	Powdered spices, salt, creamers	Generally safe; excess inhalation harmful
21	621	Monosodium glutamate (MSG)	Soups, chips, Chinese food	Headaches, nausea (in sensitive people)
22	951	Aspartame	Diet sodas, sugar-free gums	Headaches, possible neurological links

We believe that knowing what goes into your food is the first step to eating mindfully. That’s why we’re committed to transparency and using natural, wholesome ingredients. Always feel free to reach out if you want to know more about what’s in our products.

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