E for Additives - Maurice Hanssen > Reviews (2)

‘E for Additives’ contains ‘everything you should know about additives in your food.’ It comes in a paperback form and is a useful addition to any bookshelf. I was given this book some years ago but didn’t really use it until being hospitalised in 1996, following a traumatic illness.

Written by Maurice Hanssen ‘E for Additives’ is the complete guide to E-numbers. It is clearly laid out in an easy to understand, for the general food buying public to understand. E-numbers are common in everyone’s day to day life. Shopping today, one cannot buy food without E-numbers appearing in the list of ingredients. This is an 'indispensable reference book which cracks the E-numbers code' (Hanssen) allowing the reader to make an informed decision about what they are eating. But what are E-numbers and why does British Society need them?

‘E for Additives’ blows away many of the myths surrounding E-numbers. I understand that under European Law, every colorant and preservative present in food should be represented by an E-number. This book ‘explodes the mystery which surrounds those enigmatic numbers…’ (Hooper ‘General Practitioner’). Many chemicals are harmless and occur naturally in food, but for people who suffer from food intolerance, asthma and hyperactivity or are just sensitive to chemicals, knowing what is present in food, makes eating bearable and not a trauma.

This book was first published in 1984 and has had subsequent updates in recent years. I have seen it in discount books shops and even some charity shops have second hand copies, so if money is tight, check out these shops to see if they have a copy. It is worth getting, particularly, if like me you are curious to find out what you are really eating. There is no fancy jargon so lay people like myself are not confused by long Latin names (if I remember my schoolgirl chemistry correctly!).

I became hypersensitive to many foods, particularly those with chocolate, red and yellow colours, following my stay in hospital. It is not much fun not being able to eat chocolate, but my personality changed so much that I had to stop. Help! No more Snicker bars or the occasional cream egg! ‘E for Additives’ became like a bible when shopping, as my hubby or I could check out what was lurking in processed foods. Okay, we did and still do make occasional mistakes but nowadays I tend to know what to avoid and eating has once again become a joy and not a trauma.

Thorsons Publishers

ISBN 0-7225-1150-7

Apologies to Shakespeare and Hanssen for title.