What are food additives? | What are artificial additives?
It's almost impossible to avoid food additives in the modern diet, so what are they used for and how can we reduce our intake of them?
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Fetching blurbs now... please stand bySafety Standards
Additives may be 'artificial' (eg saccharin); 'natural' (eg colouring from tumeric); or 'nature identical' (eg vanillin, a man-made copy of a natural substance). The food standards agency (FSA) is clear that all food additives, both natural and artificial, must pass safety assessment and approval procedures. More than 3,000 additives are licensed for use in the EU, of which 2,700 are flavourings. Here are the main types:-- Colourings improve the appearance of food and restore colour lost during processing
- Preservatives keep food edible and safe for longer by preventing bacteria growth
- Antioxidants prolong shelf life by preventing oxidation, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is widely used as an antioxidant
- Texture Modifiers include emulsifiers to blend ingredients' stabilisers to stop separation
- Flavourings are added to food for flavour and/or odour
- Flavour Enhancers make savoury foods taste stronger
- Sweeteners are low-calorie sugar alternatives, eg saccharin.
"More than 3,000 additives are licensed for use in the EU, of which 2,700 are FLAVOURINGS!"
Additives and Allergies
For example, the preservative sulphur dioxide (E202) may trigger an attack in those people who suffer from asthma.
Studies show reactions to additives are far less common than reactions to foods such as milk or peanuts.
Eat a Balanced Natural Diet and forget the Additives!
Hidden Additives
Following a recent study, the FSA has advised parents of hyperactive children that cutting out these artificial colours may help.....
Tartrazine (E102)
Sunset Yellow (E110)
Carmoisine (E122)
Ponceau 4R (E124)
Allura Red (E129)
Quinoline Yellow (E104)
Cutting Back Your Intake of FOOD ADDITIVES
Most canned foods do not contain artificial preservatives as the canning process naturally preserves them.Besides buying "additive free" products you can also
- Cook from fresh
- Replace fatty snacks with fresh fruit or nuts
You can also try these easy swaps;
- Flavoured milk for home-made fruit smoothies
- Breaded fish for plain fish fillets
- Mushy peas for frozen peas
- Sweets for 72% cocoa chocolate
- Flavoured crisps and tortilla chips for PLAIN
- Pre-cooked meats for home-roasted
- Cream biscuits for plain or home-made ones
- Fizzy drinks for water or diluted fruit juice
- Dried fruits with preservatives for preservative-free versions.
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