FOOD ADDITIVES

Natural or synthetic
substances that are
added in small
quantities to food for
various functions

TYPES OF FOOD
ADDITIVE

FUNCTION

EXAMPLES

FOOD

PRESERVATIVES Prevent/slow down the Sodium nitrite,

spoilage of food
sodium nitrate
caused by
microorganisms
Sodium
benzoate

Ham,
sausage,
canned meat
Chilli sauce,
tomato sauce

ANTIOXIDANTS

Prevent the oxidation Ascorbic acid

of fats & oil so that the (vitamin C),
foods do not become citric acid
rancid

Cake, fried
food, cooking
oil, margarine

FLAVOURING
AGENTS

Give flavour or
enhance the taste of
food in order to be
more edible

Soup,
cooked meat
Juice, drinks

Monosodium
glutamate(MSG)
Aspartame
(sweetener)
Ester

Jam, ice
cream

CONTINUE
TYPES OF FOOD
ADDITIVE

FUNCTION

EXAMPLE

FOOD

STABILISERS

Help to emulsify food Lecithin

by preventing the
separation of oil and
water so that the
texture are smooth and
uniform

Chocolate, ice
cream,
margarine

THICKENING
AGENTS

Improve the
appearance of food by
giving a firmer and
thicker texture

Acacia gum
Gelatine
Pectin

Ice cream
Yogurt
Jam, jelly

DYES

Improve the colour of

foods to make them
more attractive

Azo
compounds,
triphenyl
compounds

Jam, ic cream,
soft drinks

The rational for the use

of food additives
To make sure that certain food remains
edible throughout the year
A considerable number of food is harvested
seasonally. In such cases preservatives are
added to make sure that they do not get
spoilt, and remains edible after a long time
Additives such as vitamin C and minerals
such as iron are added to improve the
nutritional value of food which are may be
destroyed during food processing

The effects of food

additives on health and the
environment

Type of
food
additive

Example

Preservati Sodium
ve
nitrite
Salt

Effects

Produce
nitrosamines which
are carcinogenic
(cause cancer)

Flavouring Monosodiu Allergy, headache,

m glutamate abdominal
Aspartame discomfort
Headache,
epilepsy, brain

Life without food

additives
Food spoilage occurs. Food supplies will
be reduced and there will be food
shortage around the world
Deficiency vitamin & minerals in foods
because the nutritional value of foods
may be destroyed during food processing
Malnutrition happens especially among
the younger generation due to loss of
appetite

The function of food

label
To let the consumers know about
the nutrient contents, food
additives used, expire date, halal
or non-halal, whether containing
any permitted or prohibited
chemicals or whether the food is
good or bad for health

The End
SOFEA
WARDAH
SHAMIMI SHOBANA
SHAKILA
ATHIRAH
ALIAH