What are Food Additives?
Food additives are substances that become part of a food product when they are intentionally or unintentionally added to the food while it is being processed or produced (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2011). Examples include using vinegar solutions to pickle food; adding spices or herbs to foods, and adding salt to preserve meat.
What are the purposes for using food additives?
– They improve and maintain the stability and quality of food (South Australian Department of Health, 2006). An example is the addition of sorbitol humectant to mixed dried fruit to maintain the fruit’s softness and moisture. – They improve the appearance and taste of processed food. An example is the addition of lecithin-emulsifier to margarine in order to maintain its texture.
How are food additives regulated in Canada?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for overseeing the proper use of food additives in Canada (Canadian Inspection Food Agency, 2012). In particular, the following are the provisions that contain the guidelines for such (Canadian Inspection Food Agency, 2012): – Section 4 (a) of the Food and Drugs Act – Section 3. 1(1)b of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations
Are natural food additives safe?
Although natural food additives come from natural sources, such as insects, animal lard, plants, and fruits, these may have been so chemically altered that they would not be any safer or healthier than the artificial additives (“ Natural and Artificial Food Additives,” 2013)
What are the different categories of additives?
The different categories of food additives are antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, artificial flavors, enhancers, and stabilizers.
References
Alfaro, D. (2013). What is MSG? (monosodium glutamate). Retrieved from http://culinaryarts. about. com/od/seasoningflavoring/p/msg. htm. Antimicrobials. (2013). Online Britannica Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://global. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/212615/food-additive/50533/Antimicrobials. Antioxidants. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www. understandingfoodadditives. org/pages/Ch2p8-1. htm. Antioxidants in food. (n. d.). Retrieved from ndingfoodadditives. org/pages/Ch2p8-2. htm. Artificial flavors. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www. feingold. org/Research/BLUE/Page-06-7- colorsBHT. pdf. Canadian Inspection Food Agency. (2012, November 30). Guidelines for the use of food additives and/or processing aids intended for fresh fruits and vegetable. Retrieved from http://www. inspection. gc. ca/english/fssa/frefra/safsal/additivese. shtml. Cheng, E. (1998). Adverse health effects of MSG: Will Chinese take-out take you out? Nutrition Bytes, 4(3), Article 2. Retrieved from https://www. google. com/#hl= en&sclient= psy- ab&q= msg+health+risks+pdf&oq= msg+health+risks+pdf&gs_l= hp. 3445305. 454074. 26. 45463 2. 34. 25. 1. 5. 5. 5. 667. 5407. 1j15j5j1j1j1. 24. 0. les%3B.. 1. 01c. 1. 6. psy- ab. X98ERQBH3uM&pbx= 1&bav= on. 2, or. r_qf.&bvm= bv. 43828540, d. bmk&fp= 1b8c0cc72c700 b50&biw= 1787&bih= 785. Crown National. (n. d.). Food ingredients. Retrieved from http://www. crownnational. co. za/ _downloads/catalogue/06_flavor. pdf. Definition of stabilisers. (2013). Retrieved from http://www. foodadditivesworld. com/stabilisers. html. Report on carcinogens (12th ed.). Retrieved from http://ntp. niehs. nih. gov/ntp/roc/twelfth/profiles/ ButylatedHydroxyanisole. pdf. German Research Center. (n. d.). Vanillin. Retrieved from http://www. bag. admin. ch/ themen/drogen/00041/00618/13196/13205/index. html? lang= en. International Food Information Council Information. (n. d.). Glutamate and Monosodium glutamate: Examining the myths. IFIC Review. Retrieved from http://www. foodinsight. org/ National Science Foundation. (2012, March 19). Material safety data sheet: Name of product: Vanillin. Retrieved from http://www. nsf-rs. org/media/downloadable/files/msds/vanillin_msds. pdf. Natural and artificial food additives. (2013). Retrieved from http://www. ecomii. com/ecopedia/natural- artificial-food-additives. New Zealand Safety Authority. (n. d.). Monosodium glutamate (MSG) – Information sheet. Retrieved Sidley Chemical.(2012). Vanillin hazards, vanillin safety. Retrieved from http://www. visit- aroma. com/a/News_Center/vanillin-hazards-safety. html. South Australian Department of Health. (2006, August). Food additive fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www. health. sa. gov. au/pehs/Food/food-additives-factsheet-nov06. pdf. Tobacman, J. K. (2001, October). Review of harmful gastrointestinal effects of carrageenan in animal experiments. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109(10), 983-994. http://www. umm. edu/ency/article/002435. htm. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2007, May 22). Nitrates and nitrites: TEACH chemical summary. Retrieved from http://www. epa. gov/teach/chem_summ/Nitrates_summary. pdf.
