Food Additives PDF
Food Additives PDF
FACT SHEET
SHEET NUMBER 4
This Food Science Fact Sheet is one of a series compiled by Institute of Food Science and Technology, providing
clear, concise and scientifically reliable information on key food science topics for consumers.
Food Additives
What are food additives? What do food additives do?
Food additives are substances added to foods They are grouped by technical function:
and drinks during manufacture, processing and
Acidity regulators: change or maintain acidity/
packaging. They may be added to ensure safety and
alkalinity (pH) e.g. sodium citrate (E331)
to improve or maintain key attributes, such as taste
or appearance. European legislation defines food Anticaking agents: prevent clumping ensuring
additives as substances not normally consumed as powders and granules are free-flowing
food itself, but which are added to food intentionally Antioxidants: stop oxidation, thereby extending shelf
for a technological purpose described in the life e.g. ascorbic acid (E300/vitamin C)
regulations, such as the preservation of food. Not all Colours: impart, enhance or restore colour,
manufactured foods require additives as it depends compensating for changes during processing, or
on the process and packaging used, required shelf life boosting naturally occurring weaker colours
and appearance. Emulsifiers: prevent ingredients from separating
and give mayonnaise, ice cream and margarine their
smooth texture
Why are food additives used? Flavour enhancers: strengthen savoury flavours e.g.
Food additives perform a wide variety of functions in monosodium glutamate (E621) which is also present
foods, for example preservatives, acidity regulators naturally in some foods e.g. cheese, tomatoes
and antioxidants keep food in good condition, thus Flour treatment agents: added to flour or dough to
reducing waste, whilst preserving the nutritional improve baking quality and maintain consistency
quality. Colours, sweeteners, emulsifiers and Gelling agents, thickeners & stabilisers: provide
stabilisers contribute to the product quality and texture and consistency e.g. agar, gums (locust bean,
improve the eating experience. guar, xanthan)
Preservatives: inhibit mould or bacteria growth
prolonging product shelf life, so foods do not spoil and
What are E numbers? are safer for longer
Sweeteners: intense sweeteners, e.g. aspartame
E numbers show that additives have been evaluated and saccharin, are many
and approved by the European Food Safety Authority times sweeter than
(EFSA) for use in the European Union (EU). Other sugar, hence are used in
countries may use different systems to categorise smaller quantities and
additives. contribute fewer calories.
Bulk sweeteners, such as
polyols, are not broken
down into acids that
‘Food additives perform a wide cause tooth decay
variety of functions in foods.’ Others: e.g. anti-foaming, bulking, firming, foaming,
raising and glazing agents; humectants, carriers,
modified starches, packaging gases, propellants and
sequestrants
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FOOD SCIENCE
FACT SHEET continued
SHEET NUMBER 4
Food Additives
Are food additives controlled? When polyols are used, the label will state 'excessive
Many additives are only permitted in certain foods consumption may cause laxation' and when aspartame
and at maximum usage levels. This relates to is added, the label must have the warning 'contains a
quantities ‘as sold’ but the regulators also take into source of phenylalanine'. Phenylalanine is an essential
account additives used in dried or concentrated amino acid but must be avoided by certain people with
foods and drinks, and then calculations are based an intolerance.
on the product once it has been reconstituted
(following manufacturers' instructions).
Summary
To be included in the EU approved list, additives must
Are food additives bad for you? comply with the conditions set out in the legislation,
Only additives considered safe, and for which there which states that they should not present a risk to
is a technological need, are authorised in the EU. consumers, should be technologically justified, and
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) ensures that should not mislead the consumer. Approved food
the regulations are applied in the UK. additives have advantages and consumer benefits,
such as preserving the nutritional quality of food,
enhancing its keeping quality or stability during storage
How do we know if additives are in and transportation, and aiding manufacture and
processing.
our food?
Most pre-packaged food require labelling with
certain mandatory information, regulated to References
ensure consumers have the correct information EU Rules on Food Additives https://ec.europa.eu/food/
to confidently make informed food choices. safety/food_improvement_agents/additives/eu_rules_en
Ingredients appear in decreasing order on the label,
therefore additives usually appear at, or near, the FSA Advice on Food additives https://www.food.gov.uk/
end of the list, as they are used at low levels. They safety-hygiene/food-additives
are declared using their function (e.g. Colour), name
FSA Guidance on EU approved additives and E numbers
(Curcumin) and/or E number (E100), thus avoiding
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/eu-
complicaed chemical names e.g. Emulsifier: mono-
approved-additives-and-e-numbers
and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E471).
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