Origin
4-Hexylresorcin is a synthetic substance obtained through a chemical process. 4-Hexylresorcin means that it concerns a resorcinol where at the fourth position, a hexyl group is located. Resorcinol itself can either be obtained by distillation of natural resins or, which in case of industrial use is the more common way, through melting m-benzoldisulfonic acid with sodium hydroxide. In this process, a white to reddish solid substance with a pungent odor is formed that poorly dissolves in water.
Usage
E 586 inhibits enzymatic activity in crustaceans, which prevents surface discoloration. The brown spots that can form on the surface have no health-hazardous effect or any other quality-reducing effect but a purely aesthetic one, which diminishes the commercial value of the product.
Risks
The antioxidant E 586 is controversial. No more than 2mg/kg body weight per day should be ingested. However, it should be mentioned that E 386 can already exert xenoestrogenic effects in the nanorange within the body.