How food additives can perhaps affect us: a chocolate story.

[Luisa22]

I can eat Galaxy chocolate. No problem, and it doesn't trigger my IBS. The other day I ate a Galaxy Ripple bar instead of the ordinary block chocolate. I thought nothing of it, just thought it would be the same as the block chocolate.

But it affected my bowel movements the next day, and there was some slight discomfort low down in my tummy that day too.

The next day I didn't eat it of course. Instead I tried ordinary Galaxy block chocolate. No symptoms the following day.

I was on it quickly, and checked the ingredients. They were more or less the same except for one thing: Polyglycerol polyricinoleate, aka E476, aka PGPR. That is an ingredient in the Galaxy Ripple bar.

Cadbury's chocolate also contains it (that explains why I can't eat Cadbury's either. I never knew why. I think it also explains why Cadbury's flavour went right downhill a little while ago, and it's not nice to eat any more.)

E476 is an emulsifier; a cheaper version of cocoa butter. It does a similar job -to keep chocolate smooth.

Soya lecithin can also be used. (I am fine with that!)

Using Polyglycerol polyricinoleate maximises profits (of course.) as it's a cheaper ingredient. It is sourced from the Castor Bean (sounds natural...right?) Except that I remember when I was a kid in the 1950s, Castor oil ...very nasty stuff indeed -was used to "nuke" the guts in event of constipation! So not friendly for IBS-D!!

Just my story, but I thought worthy of mention for anyone who thinks chocolate triggers their IBS. I now have to carefully read labels, and chocolate without that ingredient is friendly for me and not a trigger food at all.

[Nothing_but_books]

Thank you. Your little bit of detective work paid off. It's nice figuring out what the real culprit is.

[Luisa22 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Yes, it certainly explains why I sometimes got an upset gut from some chocolates, but never did from other ones. That additive might affect other people that way too, and it is in so many chocolates, and some sauces. It can even be in dark chocolate.

I found some that don't have it:

Galaxy (block chocolate)

Lindt chocolate (all kinds I think, but check.)

Maltesers.

Nutella spread.

There will be more. I will find out.

It is in Hershey's and Reese's, and Cadbury's

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Luisa22]

I pretty much stick to Lindt 85% and Nestle dark morsels. I checked, and it doesn't seem to be in either. I get sick when I have Nutella. Maybe that's why...

[Luisa22 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

No, as far as I know it isn't in Nutella. But of course they might have changed their ingredients now. Maybe it's some other thing in that which doesn't suit you?

[Waiting_for_godo in reply to Luisa22]

I do my own research too and it is v rewarding to find a culprit. I'm glad u identified E number additives. They r nasty. Enjoy galaxyIt is v sad that expensive chocolates are also using this additive.

[BabsyWabsy]

Apart from its laxative properties, the castor bean is also where the poison ricin comes from. Thanks for doing the research.

[Luisa22 in reply to BabsyWabsy]

Yes, quite right. "Ricin" just gives me the creeps!

[Pollyboo]

Hi Luisa22, that is very interesting, you mention e476 cheap version of cocoa butter. A dietition I consulted once told me to be carefull with Pizza as they always use cheap cheese. So many cheap ingredients in our food.Take care Pollyboo

[Chrystaline9]

Well done you Luisa22 a brilliant piece of research !!! I stopped eating Cadbury chocolate as it was affecting my stomach.

[Moggiedee in reply to Chrystaline9]

Luisa22 has just kindly added some of this information to my post of 3 months ago re "Is gluten free food doing us more harm than good" in which I listed all the ingredients in Genius crumpets. (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Polyglycerol Esters of Fatty Acids) I have now seen in this list. It seems we all need to be extra vigilant & with the help of a large magnifying glass scrutinise all the ingredients of everything we eat. Thank you Luisa22 for your detective work.

[Andann in reply to Moggiedee]

Ha, every supermarket should supply a magnifying glass station!

[Leo70]

Thank you for this. Had no idea about these additives and have just read on line all about it. We eat in the main organic chocolate, but it is good to know about Cadbury's as my youngest daughter occasionally has it and she suffers with IBS at times. Of course Cadbury was taken over by an American company.

[Sparrow58]

Who knows what's in our food these days.

[Andann]

Yes, I ate a whole bar of Whittakers dark (in NZ) and had diarrhea the next day. The bars are quite thin but it was enough!

[Luisa22 in reply to Andann]

I checked if Whittaker's has the E476 (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate) in the dark bars. It doesn't. But the ones I saw were flavoured bars. I couldn't find plain dark bars. It could have been something else, like the flavouring or other things added that upset you maybe?

[Andann in reply to Luisa22]

The dark ghana and other dark chocolates of theirs just have 'natural' ingredients like cocoa mass and soy lecithin. [I'm not sure if the latter is totally a natural product.] Dark chocolate is usually a laxative for many people, not just us with IBS. I should have known better even though the bars are only 100 gms!.

[Luisa22 in reply to Andann]

It's odd because the right dark chocolate can often settle my gut if I have been a bit too "loose". It doesn't work as a laxative for me, but a slightly binding effect. But then, I ate Lindt 80% cocoa. which is a whole different brand to yours. And I don't eat too much as it's so rich.

I don't know a lot about soy lecithin to be honest. All I know is it never gives my IBS any problems so seems friendly to me anyway. That might not be the same for everyone. We all have our own sensitivities of course.

[Luisa22]

What doesn't contain E476

Ferrero Rocher (milk pralines)

Ferrero Dark (chocolate bar)

Ferrero White (chocolate bar)

Galaxy block chocolate

Maltesers

Moser Roth (milk & dark) from Aldi

Choceur from Aldi

Toblerone

Green and Black's (all , I think)

Aero products (Quick scan, didn't check every single one.)

Booja Booja

Cadbury's Bournville (doesn't contain it but Dairy Milk does)

(not a full list. I got tired of researching! lol)

[LizzieAFib in reply to Luisa22]

I’d like to add Montezuma Absolute Black chocolate (100% coca solids, no sugar or nasties) to your list - I haven’t tried them all, but definitely know the Almond, orange and cocoa nibs and plain are all safe

[Blue_81]

Hey Luisa

Thank you for sharing. One really needs to look at what they add to our food so we don’t get a reaction. I started incorporating more green and fruits into my diet. At least 50% is raw. Have not yet notice any changes. I know it takes weeks before noticing a difference. Keep sharing.

[withallmylove]

Absolutely, I agree Luisa22, I have just posted this question ''WHY ARE CHOCOLATiERES STARTING TO PUT SYRUPS AND polydextrose in the ingredients? it makes my tummy bad and destroys my microbiome''. I have serious U C AND Chron's, now I keep it in check. I have learnt that all syrupy sugars upset my tummy, funnily, I can also eat regular Cadbury's chocolate also Lindt are goo= pure cocoa and cocoa butter and sugar (no syrups) but ...need to continue to check labels because ingds sometimes change.

[Luisa22 in reply to withallmylove]

Yes, we have to check ingredients and check if there have been any changes to the usual ingredients, not just with chocolate but with other foods we buy which are processed, even slightly processed,

I am different to you and to some others, in that sugar itself causes me no problems, and never did. But all these dextrose, malti-whatever, xylitol, sorbitol etc additives are not good for my tum. Glucose is fine, sugar, and honey.

I never used to have to read ingredients but I always have to now.

The best way is to do that online so that you know what is OK, before you go shopping.