Additives Flashcards
Topic-5
what are food addititves?
-substances added to food to enhance its flavour, appearence or shelf life
what are the 4 types of food additives?
-colours
-sweeteners
-preservatives
-flavour enhancers
what is the main reason why colour additives are used?
-during production food may lose some of its colour
-food manufactures argue that colour is an important sensory quality as certain colours are associated with certain foods
what are the 5 disadvantages of using colour additives in food products? what are 2 of the specific colours which have negative effects in children?
-they tend to have little to no nutritional benefits
-can encourage an unhealthy diet which can lead to obesity and CVD
-E110 (sunset yellow) and E129 (allura red) linked to ADHD in children so it must be specified on label packets that it may have an adverse effect on behaviour of children
-some mixes of colours with the preservative sodium benzoate can cause negative effects on children health
-allergic reactions to E110 sunset yellow can also occur causing rashes and hives
-some of the synthetic colours can also be carcinogenic
what is an example of a campaign used to reduce the use of food additives?
-Campaigns against aspartame
what are the 2 main controversies around the use of preservatives?
-despite there being environmental, ethical and economic reasons for the use of preservatives, there is still large amounts of food waste everyday in the UK
-there is concern over sodium nitrate which is used as a preservative in processed meats, however nitrates are naturally occurring in many root vegetables so FSA considers that nitrate levels are protective for consumers
why are preservatives used?
-used to prevent food spoilage and extend shelf life by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms
what are 3 advantages of preservatives?
-they have a critical role in ensuring food safety
-they prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms
-they help maintain the quality of food products which helps to reduce food waste
what are 2 examples of preservatives and what products are they used in?
-sodium benzoate
-sulphites in dried fruits
-nitrates in cured meats
what are the advantages and disadvantages of using sodium benzoate as a preservative?
-it helps to prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms in acidic foods like fruit juices and salad dressings
-it can form benzene which is carcinogenic when combined with vitamin C
-it may also cause damage to the mitochondria/ DNA which can increase the risk of diseases like Parkinson’s
what are the advantages and disadvantages of using sulphites as a preservative?
-use to preserve the freshness in dried fruits and wines
-they are effectives at preventing the growth of harmful microorganisms
-in sensitive individuals they may cause allergic reactions
-there is also concern over they potential carcinogenic effects
what are the advantages and disadvantages of using nitrates as a preservative?
-they prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms in cured meats
-they can transform into nitric oxide which has health benefits but can also produce nitrosamines which are carcinogenic, especially when meats are cooked at high temperatures
-there is a link between sodium nitrate which is found in bacon, and cancer
why are flavour enhancers used?
-used to improve the taste and extend the shelf life of food
what are the two main flavour enhancers and what are their specific jobs?
-MSG which is used to amplify existing flavours without introducing new ones
-HVP which is used to amplify flavours and improve protein digestibility
what is the main advantage of using flavour enhancers? what type of products are they useful in?
-they improve the palatability of food which makes it more enjoyable to eat
-this is important in low sodium products to help reduce sodium intake
what are 4 disadvantages in using flavour enhancers?
-some can experience adverse effects to substances like MSG including allergic reactions
-some studies suggest there is a link between the consumption of these enhancers are long term neurological issues
-HPV like MSG also can cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals
-FSA ensures that all enhancers are rigorously tested before they are authorised for use in food
why are sweeteners used? what 2 group of people benefit from sweeteners?
-to provide a sweet taste without increasing blood sugar levels
-diabetics can enjoy sweet tasting food without it affecting their sugar levels
-people who wish to lose or maintain their weight as sweeteners can give a sweet taste to low calorie products
what are 3 disadvantages of using sweeteners in food?
-sweetener aspartame has been linked to health problems
-sweetener sorbitol can have a laxative effect causing water retention and diarrhoea
-can be addicting
what is the role of the EFSA in terms of regulating sweeteners?
-they rigorously test sweeteners like aspartame to determine an ADI- acceptable daily intake
-these ADIs do not apply to people with PKU as they cannot break down one of the by products of aspartame
what are the 5 ways that the EFSA ensures food additives are safe?
-authorisation
-safety evaluation
-re evaluation
-allergies
-E numbers
how does authorisation by the EFSA ensure that food additives are safe? what are the 3 things additives must do by law?
-under EU legislation all food additives must be rigorously tested before they can be used in food
-food additives are legal to use if they pose no risk to health, there must be used only when required and there is nothing else that will give the same result, and it must not mislead the consumer
how do the EFSA conduct safety evaluations of food additives?
-they collect traceability documents which contain chemical identifications of the additive, its manufacturing process and its case of need
-based on this the EFSA determine its ADI
how does re-valuation of additives by the EFSA ensure their continued safety? what is the name of the request the EFSA must respond to in relation to food additives?
-the EC conducted EFSA to re evaluate all authorised additives in NI
-this is to further ensure consumer protection and protect public health
-the original assessments may have occurred years ago so the additives may have changed
-the EFSA must respond to ad hoc requests from the EC on additives which have received new scientific information
how does the EFSA ensure food additives are safe through evaluation of potential allergens?
-they consider the potential allergenic effects of certain food colours
-it is carried out by the EFSA panel on Dietary Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)
-this panel thoroughly assesses potential risks
how do the EFSA ensure food additives are safe through the establishment of E numbers?
-E numbers are codes for food additive substances within the EU
-the codes are used as identification by the EFSA to ensure the additives used are properly tested and authorised
-E numbers help consumers and manufactures recognise these approved additives too
