E323 – Anoxomer
AntioxidantsDescription
Polymeric antioxidant
Notes
## E323 - Anoxomer **Anoxomer** is a **polymeric antioxidant** - essentially a large molecule created by linking together multiple smaller **phenolic antioxidant** units. Think of it like a chemical chain where each link is a powerful antioxidant molecule. It's manufactured by combining various **phenolic monomers** (single antioxidant units) through industrial processes to create this larger, more stable compound that's particularly effective at protecting fats and oils. This additive excels at **preventing oxidation** in fatty foods, oils, and oil-based products. Because of its large molecular structure, it's especially good at staying put in food products rather than migrating or breaking down quickly. You'll find it used in **cooking oils, fried foods, nuts, seeds, and various processed foods** with high fat content where preventing rancidity and maintaining freshness is important. **E323 is entirely synthetic**, created through industrial chemical processes, and is suitable for **vegetarian and vegan diets**. While it's designed to be highly effective, it's **not widely approved** for use in many countries - in fact, it's **not currently authorized** in the European Union or the United States for direct food use. When it is used, it's subject to strict regulatory limits and is primarily found in specialized industrial food applications rather than everyday consumer products.