FOOD ADDITIVES

Food additives are the substance or mixture of substance, which present in food other than a base food ingredients. It present in food as a result of any aspects of production processing packaging or storage
this definition include both intentional and unintentional food additives

  • Unintentional food additives are non added into food to achieve any spacial effect It may accidentally enter into food as a result of agricultural production feeding of animal food processing or packaging
  • Intentional food additives are the substance which may added to food for spacial purpose it include preservatives,anti-oxidants,thickening agents,leavening agents,stabilizing agents,flavouring agents, flavouring enhancers,coloring agents,non nutritive dietary sweeteners,nutrient supplements,..

Top 4 Food Additives 

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

It is no surprise that MSG is on the list. MSG is created by a naturally occurring chemical called glutamate and looks similar to salt or sugar crystals. While glutamate is tasteless, it has the ability to enhance flavors. It is typically found in Chinese food, canned foods, and processed meats. MSG has the GRAS Classification by the Food & Drug Administration which means it is "generally recognized as safe." But due to the controversy surrounding MSG, the FDA requires that it be listed on the label.

Sodium Benzoate 

Sodium benzoate is a common food preservative used in many processed food products and drinks to prevent spoilage. Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid. It is used as an antifungal preservative in pharmaceutical preparations and foods. Sodium benzoate is often added to acidic food products such as sauerkraut, jellies and jams, and hot sauces; however some foods, like cranberries, cinnamon, prunes and apples, naturally contain it. It has been suggested that it may help treat hyperammonemia in terms of medication. 

Potassium bromate 

It is a common food additive that is used to strengthen bread and cracker dough, helping it rise during baking; however, California and and the international cancer agency lists it as a carcinogen. Potassium bromate has been labeled as causing tumors, toxic to the kidneys and may even cause DNA damage. Though once baked, it converts to potassium bromide which has been deemed as non-carcinogenic, some residues exist.

Sodium nitrite 

It is usually found in preserved meat products like sausages, cured meats and canned meats. Concerns of this preservative are that too much may cause pancreatic cancer and other health problems. A study reports that methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder in which an abnormal amount of methemoglobin is produced, was found in in an adolescent girl and her father after ingesting homemade beef jerky that contained sodium nitrate.

Pros and Cons of Food Additives


Why Food Additives are Added to Food?

Additives perform a variety of useful functions in foods that consumers often take for granted. Some additives could be eliminated if we were willing to grow our own food, harvest and grind it, spend many hours cooking and canning, or accept increased risks of food spoilage. But most consumers today rely on the many technological, aesthetic and convenient benefits that additives provide.

Following are some reasons why ingredients are added to foods:

  1. To Maintain or Improve Safety and Freshness: Preservatives slow product spoilage caused by mold, air, bacteria, fungi or yeast. In addition to maintaining the quality of the food, they help control contamination that can cause foodborne illness, including life-threatening botulism. One group of preservatives -- antioxidants -- prevents fats and oils and the foods containing them from becoming rancid or developing an off-flavor. They also prevent cut fresh fruits such as apples from turning brown when exposed to air.
  2. To Improve or Maintain Nutritional Value: Vitamins and minerals (and fiber) are added to many foods to make up for those lacking in a person's diet or lost in processing, or to enhance the nutritional quality of a food. Such fortification and enrichment has helped reduce malnutrition in the U.S. and worldwide. All products containing added nutrients must be appropriately labeled.
  3. Improve Taste, Texture and Appearance: Spices, natural and artificial flavors, and sweeteners are added to enhance the taste of food. Food colors maintain or improve appearance. Emulsifiers, stabilizers and thickeners give foods the texture and consistency consumers expect. Leavening agents allow baked goods to rise during baking. Some additives help control the acidity and alkalinity of foods, while other ingredients help maintain the taste and appeal of foods with reduced fat content.

Food Additive Disadvantages

Some food additives can potentially cause harmful side effects. For example, butylated hydroxyanisole, commonly known as BHA, is a preservative used in foods including potato chips, crackers, beer, baked goods and cereal. It has been classified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a preservative "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." Sulfites, which are added to baked goods, wine, condiments and snack foods, could cause hives, nausea, diarrhea and shortness of breath in some people.

How Are Additives Approved for Use in Foods?

Today, food and color additives are more strictly studied, regulated and monitored than at any other time in history. FDA has the primary legal responsibility for determining their safe use. To market a new food or color additive (or before using an additive already approved for one use in another manner not yet approved), a manufacturer or other sponsor must first petition FDA for its approval. These petitions must provide evidence that the substance is safe for the ways in which it will be used. As a result of recent legislation, since 1999, indirect additives have been approved via a premarket notification process requiring the same data as was previously required by petition.