Food Additives And Preservatives Present In Our Daily Foods

Food additive and preservative present in our daily life

Busy schedule, long hour traveling, natural calamity there are many reasons when we skip to make food and we may not get freshly prepared foods. In this time long persevered food act as Masaya.

What is food additive? 

A Food additive is a substance which is added in order to change the food in some way before the consumption. Additive include preservatives which are responsible for extending shelf life , improving color , flavor , taste , appearance ,nutritional supplements (minerals , vitamins , antioxidants)

What is food preservative?

Food preservative is used to prevent the development of the dangerous microorganism in the food and enhance it’s shelf life.

List of food additives –

1. Stabilizers –thickeners and gelling agents (agar or pectin) used in jam.
2. Sweetener – Added to make the food sweet, apart from sucrose other sweeteners like aspartame, saccharine etc are used for low or no calorie benefits.
3. Thickener- It is used to enhance viscosity.
4. Preservatives – prevent the microbe development.
5. Humectants- Prevent food drying
6. Tracer gas – During packaging of the foods, this is used , in order to prevent the food come in contact with the atmosphere .
7. Glazing agent – shiny appearance and also protective coating to food.
8. Flour treatment agent – flour to improve color and also for baking.
9. Flavour enhancer – enhance the existing flavor.
10. Flavour – To improve the taste , it can be artificial or natural.
11. Emulsifier- It help to water and oil remain together in a mixture with ice cream .
12. Colour retention agent – preserve the food color.
13. Food coloring – Adding color to food which was lost during preservation.
14. Bulking agent – such as starch to enhance the bulk
15. Antioxidant – like vitamin c prevent the effect of oxygen on food.
16. Anti-foaming agent – prevent or reduce foaming.
17. Acids- act as a sharper , preservative , antioxidant.

List of food preservatives –

• Natural food preservatives – It come from salt, sugar, alcohol, vinegar .This are used decades during the preparation of pickle, juice and jam.
• Chemical preservatives – This are best and effective for long shelf life like

1. Sorbets ( sodium sorbets)
2. Nitrates ( sodium nitrate)
3. Sulphite ( sulphur dioxide )
4. Benzoate ( benzoic acid )

Antioxidants are also food preservatives like Vitamin c, BHA.

• Artificial preservatives – It help to delay bacterial growth, discoloration and spoilage.

1. Antioxidants
2. Chelating agent
3. Anti microbial agent

• Harmful food preservatives – Although they prevent bacterial growth and enhance shelf life, it is quiet hazardous for human health.

1. Benzoate
2. Caramel
3. Butylates
4. BHA

  Indian standard for food additive and preservative

The food additive nor preservative can be added indiscriminately so Indian food standard need to followed like fermented milk product phosphate can be added 1000mg / kg as per Indian standards.