Food additive
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve it, or to improve its flavour and appearance. Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, when preserving food by pickling (with vinegar), salting, as with bacon, or using sulphur dioxide as is common in wine.
However, with the advent of processed foods in the second half of the 20th century, many more additives have begun to be used, of both natural and artificial origin. To regulate these additives, and inform consumers, each additive is assign a unique number. See the list of food additives for a complete list of all of them.
Food additives can be divided into several different groups, although there is some overlap between them.
- Acids
- Food acids, especially vinegar and citric acid, are added to make the falvour of foods "sharper", and also act as preservatives and antioxidants.
- Anticaking agents
- Anticaking agents keep powders such as milk powder flowing freely, rather then sticking together in lumps.
- Antioxidants
- Antioxidants such as vitamin C act as preservatives by inhibiting the effects of oxygen on food, and are generally beneficial for your health.
- Colours
- Colourings are added to food to replace colours lost during preparation, or to make food such as candy more attractive.
- Emulsifiers
- Emulsifiers allow water and oils to remain mixed together, as in milk, mayonnaise and ice cream.
- Flavouring agents
- Flavours include the two other basic tastes apart from sweet, salt and sour (acid), and many aromas found nature.
- Humectants
- Humectants prevent foods from drying out.
- Preservatives
- Preservatives prevent or inhibit spoilage of food due to fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms.
- Stabilizers
- Stabilizers, thickeners and gelling agents work with emulsifiers to give foods a good texture, like Agar, or the pectin used in jam.
- Sweeteners
- Sweeteners are added to foods for flavoring. Other sweeteners than sugar are added to lower the calories in food, or because they have beneficial effects for diabetes and tooth decay.