Food additives & Preservatives are fancy to hear and we unknowing consume a lot of food additives in various forms such as
PRESERVATIVES
It is added in food to fight spoilage caused by bacteria, molds, fungus, and yeast. Preservatives can keep food fresher for longer periods of time, extending its shelf life. Food preservatives also are used to slow or prevent changes in color, flavor or texture and delay rancidity.
When it comes to preserving foods, there are two methods: physical and chemical. Drying, refrigerating and freezing are examples of physical preservation. Chemical preservation involves adding ingredients called additives to food in order to prevent oxidation, rancidity, bacterial growth, etc. There are both natural and synthetic preservatives that are used in food
ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants are used as food additives to help guard against food deterioration. Exposure to oxygen and sunlight are the two main factors in the oxidation of food. Antioxidants are an especially important class of preservatives as, unlike bacterial or fungal spoilage, oxidation reactions still occur relatively rapidly in frozen or refrigerated food.
These preservatives include natural & synthetic antioxidants
STABILIZER & EMULSIFIER
Emulsifiers and stabilisers are both classified as additives. The main purpose of these additives is to maintain a uniformed texture and to prevent the separation of essential ingredients in food products.
While emulsifiers help to mix together substances which do not easily mix, such as oil and water, stabilisers on the other hand, ‘stabilise’ the desired consistency and stops these substances from separating again after they have been mixed.
FOOD COLOUR
The colour of your food plays an important role by visually stimulating your appetite. But have you ever wondered where these colours come from?
Food colourings are of two types: artificial and natural. Not surprisingly, natural colours are a better alternative as they are wholly derived from plants. Natural colouring usually appears less vibrant when compared to artificial colouring. This however, does not affect the taste of your food.
ACIDITY REGULATORS
Acidity regulators, or pH control agents, are food additives used to change or maintain pH (acidity or basicity).They can be organic or mineral acids, bases, neutralizing agents, or buffering agents.
