additives

• an additive is something thats added to food to improve its properties
• some additives occur naturally and some are made artificially
• preservatives are additives that prevent bacteria from growing - so the food lasts longer
• natural preservatives include:

  • vinegar
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • sugar
• artificial preservatives include:

  • nitrates
  • sulphites
• colourings make food look more attractive and more appealing to eat. they can be used to add colour to something that is colourless, or to return food to its natural colour if its lost during processing
• caramel is a natural food colouring - it can make products darkish brown, eg cola
• tartrazine is an artificial food colouring - its used to make products a yellow colour, eg custard powder
• flavourings add new flavours and flavour enhancers improve the existing flavour of a product
• natural flavourings include herbs and spices eg basil
• artificial sweeteners are used as substitutes for sugar such as aspartame
• monosodium glutamate is an example of a flavour enhancer - it boosts the existing flavour of a product and gives it a savoury taste
• emulsifiers and stabilisers help preserve the shape and texture of food products
• emulsifiers help mix together ingredients that dont usually mid, eg oily and watery liquids
• stabilisers stop mixed ingredients from separating
• lecithin is a natural emulsifier found in egg yolks and soya beans
• pectin is a natural stabiliser found in berries, apples and many other fruits
• additives can cause allergic reactions and worsen asthma
• some natural additives such as sugar and salt are bad for health in large amounts
• additives can disguise poor quality ingredients
• additives must pass a safety test before they can be used in food - when an additive passes it gets an E number and can be used throughout the EU
• there are concerns with additives as we dont know the long term effects
• some research suggest that at least 6 colourings can cause hyperactive behaviour in children