Food Additives

Question 1

List the undesirable effects of including additives in food

Answer 1

Hyperactivity in children
Some people may develop migraines
Some contain carcinogens
Some destroy the nutritive content of food
May deceive the consumer
Little is known about the cocktail effect

Question 2

How does EU law regulate the use of food additives?

Answer 2

All EU countries share a list of permitted food additives
Additives undergo testing by the European Food Safety Authority before being approved
Food additives must be listed in ingredients with E number and name
Additives cannot be added to food if they lower nutritional value, deceive the consumer, present a hazard or disguise faulty processing
Colourings, preservatives, antioxidants and sweeteners are prohibited in baby food

Question 3

Natural colourings

Answer 3

Chlorophyll

Caramel

Question 4

Synthetic colourings

Answer 4

tartrazine

sunset yellow

Question 5

Synthetic preservatives

Answer 5

Sorbic acid

Sulphur dioxide

Question 6

Artificial flavourings

Answer 6

Esters

Aldehydes

Question 7

Artificial sweeteners

Answer 7

intense: saccharin
bulk: sorbitol

Question 8

Physical conditioning agents

Answer 8

Emulsifiers
Stabilisers
Anti-caking agents
Humectants
Thickeners
Buffers

Question 9

Synthetic antioxidant

Answer 9

Butylated hydroxytoluene