Hydrogen

Food additives Europe numbers: E949 
Hydrogen itself isn't a food excipient. Here's why:

• Food Excipients: These are generally inactive ingredients added to food in small amounts for various purposes like bulking, texturizing, preserving, or aiding in processing. They are safe for consumption.
• Hydrogen: This is a simple molecule (H₂) and the most abundant element in the universe. It's a gas at room temperature and pressure and wouldn't be directly added to food.

However, hydrogen can be involved in food processing in a couple of ways:

• Hydrogenation: This is a process where hydrogen gas is added to vegetable oils to convert them from unsaturated fats (liquid at room temperature) to saturated fats (solid at room temperature). Hydrogenated fats are used in some processed foods to improve shelf life and texture.
• Food Packaging: Sometimes, inert gases like hydrogen are used in food packaging to displace oxygen and extend the shelf life of certain products, particularly those prone to spoilage by oxidation.