Additives perform a variety of useful functions in foods that
are often taken for granted. Since most people no longer live
on farms, additives help keep food wholesome and appealing
while en route to markets sometimes thousands of miles away
from where it is grown or manufactured.
Common Uses of Additives
Many substances added to food may seem foreign when listed
on the ingredient label, but are actually quite familiar.
For example, ascorbic acid is another name for Vitamin C;
alphatocopherol is another name for Vitamin E; and beta-carotene
is a source of Vitamin A. Although there are no easy synonyms
for all additives, it is helpful to remember that all food
is made up of chemicals. Carbon, hydrogen and other chemical
elements provide the basic building blocks for everything
in life.
What is a Food Additive?
In its broadest sense, a food additive is any substance added
to food. Legally, the term refers to "any substance the
intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected
to result-directly or indirectly
-in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics
of any food." If a substance is added to a food for a
specific purpose in that food, it is referred to as a direct
additive. Indirect food additives are those that become part
of the food in trace amounts due to its packaging, storage
or other handling. For instance, minute amounts of packaging
substances may find their way into foods during storage.
What is a Colour Additive?
A color additive is any dye, pigment or substance
that can impart color when added or applied to a food, drug,
or cosmetic, or to the human body. Color additives may be
used in foods, drugs, cosmetics, and certain medical devices
such as contact lenses. Color additives are used in foods
for many reasons, including to offset color loss due to storage
or processing of foods and to correct natural variations in
food color.
How are Additives Regulated?
Additives are not always by-products of 20th
century technology or modern know-how. Our ancestors used
salt to preserve meats and fish; added herbs and spices to
improve the flavor of foods; preserved fruit with sugar; and
pickled cucumbers in a vinegar solution. Over the years, however,
improvements have been made in increasing the efficiency and
ensuring the safety of all additives. Today food and color
additives are more strictly regulated that at any other time
in history.
How
is Additives Approved for Use in Foods?
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