Food additives don’t have nutritional value, but they are added to food in small amounts to serve a specific function. Some, like preservatives, stop bacteria or mould from spoiling your food, so that it lasts longer. Colourings are used to make our food looks more appealing. Emulsifiers allow water and oils to remain mixed together in an emulsion, like in mayonnaise for example. Every additive that we find on our plate in Europe has been thoroughly tested and has, based on the best currently available science, been classified as safe and approved for use by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
https://foodsafety4.eu/This article explores what emulsifiers are, how they work, the different types that exist and in which food products they play a vital role.
Nitrates and nitrites have raised some concerns among consumers for their potential to harm health. But is it true that these food additives are not safe?
Is monosodium glutamate really as bad for you as the press says? This article explores MSG and what the latest research says about its health effects.
Preservatives have become an indispensable part of the food we eat. This article explores the varying ways preservatives keep our foods fresh, safe, and shelf stable.
Sulphites in wine are often blamed for headaches and other unpleasant reactions. But are they actually the cause? Here is what you need to know about sulphites.
Despite modern-day associations, food additives have been used for centuries. Over the last 50 years, developments in food science and technology have led to the discovery of many new substances that can fulfil numerous functions in foods.
Some acidifiers also act as stabilizers, others help antioxidants or emulsifiers, or assist in colour retention. It may seem a minor parameter, but to maintain the appropriate pH is the first step to ensure food safety and a longer shelf life.
This article lists and provides examples of the different types of groups of food additives currently used in the European Union.
Add oil to water and the two liquids will never mix. At least not until an emulsifier is added. Emulsifiers are molecules with one water-loving (hydrophilic) and one oil-loving (hydrophobic) end. They make it possible for water and oil to become finely dispersed in each other, creating a stable, homogenous, smooth emulsion.
Preservatives are a recurring topic in public discussions, and whenever it crops up, many consumers associate them with harmful, modern chemicals in foodstuffs. But, as a brief look back into the past will show, preservation of food was practised several hundred years ago when man first used salt (salting) and smoke (curing) to stop meat and fish from going bad.
Antioxidants are present in many foodstuffs, and everyone has heard of them at some time or other or seen them listed as additives on food packaging. But what are they supposed to do in foods? And why do they play such an important role in many products?