Different Types and Benefits of Food Additives |
Posted: October 17, 2017 |
Food additives are substances that are added to food to improve or maintain its taste, freshness, safety, appearance, and texture. Food additives are thoroughly checked and inspected by relevant authorities so that they do not cause harmful effects to food and human health in overall. The general public will use only the food additives that have been inspected. Many food additives have been utilized for centuries for preservation. Examples of food additives that people have used over a long time are salt and sulfur dioxide. Salting was used mainly in meat and fish. Sulphur dioxide was mainly used in wine. Manufacturers have developed several food additives to meet various needs of food production. Making food needs food additives to keep it in right condition from the factories until the industrial kitchen or home kitchen. All through the transportation, warehouses until it reaches consumers need to be safe and in good shape. The use of food additives is beneficial to consumers because it preserves the nutritional quality of food and keeps it in stable condition. Food additives are derived from several sources. Many of the food additives are derived from animals, plants, and minerals, and some of them are synthetic. Many types of food additives are available worldwide. Examples of Food Additives • Anticaking agents. It helps in stopping the ingredients from becoming too lumpy • Antioxidants assist in preventing foods substances from going rancid and oxidation. • Artificial sweaters assist in increasing the sweetness of food. • Emulsifiers assist in stopping the cooking fats from clotting together. • The food acids assist in maintaining the right level of acid in food • Colours add or enhance the color of food • Humectants help in keeping the foods moist • Carrageenan helps to preserve both the texture and flavor of food • Foaming agents assist in maintaining the same aeration of food gases. • Mineral salts enhance flavor and texture • Preservatives are the important food activities because it helps in stopping the microbes from spoiling and multiplying in the food. • Raising agents help in increasing the volume of food substances through the use of gases. Additives Increase Shelf Life Taking food which is infected with microbes or microorganism is very harmful to the body because it causes food poisoning. Food additives help in keeping the food fresh and in right condition because it prevents spoilage. They help in compacting the growth of the various viruses and bacteria in the food. Salt and other many natural additives help in increasing the shelf life of many food substances. In general, food additives help food maintain its quality for an extended period. Additives Enhance Flavor Many processes like dehydrating, freezing and canning often change the flavor of food. Food additives like sweeteners, acids and flavor enhancers will make food taste extra better. For example, when people add salt to food, it makes one craving for more. The correct amount of food additives should be added to food to increase taste. Increasing Nutrients Through Fortification Mineral and vitamins always get lost through many processes. Many food substances like corn flakes are often fortified with mineral, vitamins, or fiber. Preserving them through food additives increases the convenience of consuming and storing them. Food additives also help in improving the nutritional quality of food. Also, food that people preserved using food additives assist people who do not take food that is always in a balanced diet. Preserve Appearance and Texture The process of manufacturing food often changes the texture and flavor of food substances and sometimes make them unpleasant. Artificial and natural food additives when added to food improved flavor and texture. Some food additives like emulsifiers and stabilizers enhanced the consistency of many foods. Spices and sweeteners increase flavor to food. Many relevant authorities allow consumption of different types of food additives, as long as they are correctly used. People should be very mindful of what they take and be aware of which additives have been verified by relevant authorities for public consumption.
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