They also prevent cut fresh fruits such as apples from turning brown when exposed to air. One group of preservatives - antioxidants - prevents fats and oils and the foods containing them from becoming rancid or developing an off-flavor. In addition to maintaining the quality of the food, they help control contamination that can cause foodborne illness, including life-threatening botulism. To Maintain or Improve Safety and Freshness: Preservatives slow product spoilage caused by mold, air, bacteria, fungi or yeast.But most consumers today rely on the many technological, aesthetic and convenient benefits that additives provide.įollowing are some reasons why ingredients are added to foods: Some additives could be eliminated if we were willing to grow our own food, harvest and grind it, spend many hours cooking and canning, or accept increased risks of food spoilage. Why Are Food and Color Ingredients Added to Food?Īdditives perform a variety of useful functions in foods that consumers often take for granted. The purpose of this brochure is to provide helpful background information about food and color additives: what they are, why they are used in foods and how they are regulated for safe use. All food additives are carefully regulated by federal authorities and various international organizations to ensure that foods are safe to eat and are accurately labeled. In fact, every food we eat - whether a just-picked strawberry or a homemade cookie - is made up of chemical compounds that determine flavor, color, texture and nutrient value. Still, some consumers have concerns about additives because they may see the long, unfamiliar names and think of them as complex chemical compounds. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a list of over 3000 ingredients in its data base "Everything Added to Food in the United States", many of which we use at home every day (e.g., sugar, baking soda, salt, vanilla, yeast, spices and colors).
There are thousands of ingredients used to make foods. Food additives and advances in technology help make that possible. Today, consumers demand and enjoy a food supply that is flavorful, nutritious, safe, convenient, colorful and affordable. 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.
Why Are Food and Color Ingredients Added to Food?.
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