Food additives

Meaning of Food Additives

Food additives are substances deliberately added to food to improve the appearance, colour, texture, flavor, nutritive values, aroma and taste, and also to preserve the food. E.g. monosodium, glutamate, lecithin, diglycerides, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, etc.

Uses of Food Additives

The uses of food additives include the following:

1. To improve the flavour of the food
2. To improve the appearance and colour of the food
3. To improve the taste of the food
4. To excite appetite
5. To act as a tenderizer
6. For garnishing
7. Used as preservatives
8. Used as emulsifier.

EVALUATION

1. Define food additives.
2. State five uses of food additives.