Technological Developments To Support Better Health (Advanced Info)

Question 1

What is fortification?

Answer 1

The addition of nutrients to a food product to improve its nutritional value

Question 2

What are some examples of fortified foods?

Answer 2

White flour (by law must be fortified with iron, niacin and thiamine)
Fruit juices
Breakfast cereals

Question 3

What are the advantages of fortification?

Answer 3

To increase the nutrient content, especially when added to staple foods
When there is a nutrient deficiency in a country, fortification can help to reduce the deficiency
Can replace the nutrients lost during the processing of foods
Manufacturers may use it as an advantage in increasing the sales as it can be marketed as more healthy

Question 4

What are the disadvantages to fortification?

Answer 4

There is the possibility of over-consumption of a nutrient

They are also often heavily processed

Question 5

What are some examples of voluntarily fortified foods?

Answer 5

Fruit juices are often fortified with vitamin C

Low fat spreads are often fortified with vitamins A and D, so they are similar to margarine and butter

Question 6

What are additives?

Answer 6

They are substances that are added to foods during manufacturing or processing to improve their:
Flavour
Colour
Texture
Appearance

Question 7

What are the main groups of additives?

Answer 7

Preservatives
Antioxidants
Colours
Flavourings and flavour enhancers
Sweeteners
Emulsifiers and stabilisers

Question 8

What is an E number?

Answer 8

A number given to an additive to indicate that it has been approved for use in the EU

Question 9

Why are additives used?

Answer 9

They can help make food safe for longer
They can make food more attractive or taste better
They can give food an improved nutritional profile

Question 10

Additives may be:

Answer 10

Natural - obtained from natural sources
Natural identical (synthetic) - made in a lab to be chemically identical as certain natural materials
Artificial - synthetic compounds that do not occur in nature

Question 11

What are the advantages of using additives for the manufacturer?

Answer 11

Meets consumer needs
Improves a specific characteristic of a food
Produces the expected quality in foods
Helps maintain product consistency in large scale production
Prevents food spoilage
Helps disguise inferior ingredients

Question 12

What are the disadvantages of using additives for the manufacturer?

Answer 12

Long term effects are unknown

Some people may be allergic to the additive thus will not buy the product

Question 13

What is a preservative?

Answer 13

A substance that extends the shelf life of a product

Question 14

Why are preservatives added to foods?

Answer 14

They are added to foods:
To extend the shelf life - meaning consumers do not need to go shopping too often
To prevent the growth of microorganisms which can cause food spoilage

Question 15

What are preservatives found in?

Answer 15

Many processed foods
Cured meats such as bacon or ham
Dried fruit such as sultanas and raisins

Question 16

What is an antioxidant?

Answer 16

A substance that stops fat from going rancid; stops enzymic browning

Question 17

Why are antioxidants used?

Answer 17

They are used to:
Help prevent fat soluble vitamins, oils and fats from combining with oxygen and making the product rancid
Prevent some foods from going brown

Question 18

What are colourings?

Answer 18

Chemicals added to make foods look more attractive

Question 19

How are colourings used?

Answer 19

They are used in manufacturing to:
Replace colour lost during heat treatment
Boost colours already in foods
Maintain consistency between different batch productions
Make foods that are normally colourless look attractive

Question 20

How are flavourings used?

Answer 20

They are widely used in savoury foods to make the existing flavour in the food stronger
They replace flavours lost during the processing of the food

Question 21

What are the two types of sweetener?

Answer 21

Intense sweeteners

Bulk sweeteners

Question 22

What are intense sweeteners?

Answer 22

They are approximately 300 times sweeter than sugar and only used in very small amounts
Very low in energy
Used in low calorie drinks and reduced sugar products

However they:
Lack the bulk that is needed in recipes that normally use sugar cane or beet
Do not have the same characteristics as sugar in cooking
Leave a bitter after taste

Question 23

What are examples of intense sweeteners?

Answer 23

Aspartame

Saccharin

Question 24

What are bulk sweeteners?

Answer 24

They are similar to sugar in levels of sweetness

Used in sugar free confectionary and preserves for diabetics

Question 25

What are some examples of bulk sweeteners?

Answer 25

Hydrogenated glucose syrup
Sorbitol
Sucralose

Question 26

What are the most common types of foods that include modified starches?

Answer 26

Frozen foods
Ready made meals
Microwave meals
Sauces
Dressings
Soups

Question 27

Why are modified starches used?

Answer 27

They are used in food products to improve the quality

Question 28

What are emulsifiers?

Answer 28

These are substances that help to prevent mixtures from separating

Question 29

How is modified starch used?

Answer 29

Modified starch is used as a thickener in most food products

Question 30

What are some examples of how modified starch is used?

Answer 30

In ready meals - prevents sauces from separating
In instant soups/pot noodles - produces a thick sauce as soon as hot liquid is added
In cold, gelling desserts - a cold liquid is added to thicken the mixture

Question 31

Why would one intend to use a gelling agent?

Answer 31

To create a smooth, set texture (e.g. in a cheesecake)
For setting meat and fish in savoury jelly
As a stabiliser to stop separation
As a stabiliser to ensure smooth texture

Question 32

What are functional foods?

Answer 32

Functional foods are foods that have health-promoting benefits over and above their basic nutritional value

Question 33

What are probiotic foods?

Answer 33

Foods that contain a large number of naturally occurring live bacteria.
They are known as ‘good’ or ‘friendly’ bacteria as it is thought to help to:
Maintain a healthy digestive system
Strengthen the immune system

Question 34

What are prebiotic foods?

Answer 34

These contain a carbohydrate that the digestive system cannot break down.
They help feed the good bacteria in your digestive system and improve its health