CHEMICAL CUISINE

Dr. Sandra Bastin, RD, LD

University of KentuckyCooperative Extension

Service

Objectives Are food additives safe or do they

increase our risk of cancer and other diseases?

What laws affect food additives? Who monitors food additives? Why are food additives used? Can you identify food additives in

food?

Definition of Food Additive

A food additive is any substance used to provide a technical effect in foods.

Laws Governing Food Additives

The Food & Drug Act of 1906 The Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act The Delaney Clause

GRAS Prior Sanctioned Substances

Who Monitors Food Additives?

Food & Drug Administration (FDA) The Food Safety & Inspection

Service (FSIS) US Department of Agriculture

(USDA)

Why are food additives used?

1. To maintain or improve nutritional quality;

2. To preserve quality and/or freshness;

3. To assist in processing or preparation; and

4. To make food more appealing.

To Maintain or Improve Nutritional Quality

Enrichment Fortification

To Preserve Quality and/or Freshness

Preservatives Antioxidants

To Assist in Processing or Preparation

Anti-Caking Agents

Emulsifiers Humectants Leavening Agents

Maturing & Bleaching Agents

pH Control Agents Thickeners &

Stabilizers

To Make Food More Appealing

Colors Flavors Flavor Enhancers Sweeteners

Food Additive from A - Z

Those considered safe. Non toxic but … May pose risk.

Because an additive is not on the list

is not an indication of safety or non-safety.

Activity

Read the ingredient list on a food label.

Can you find the food additives?

Do you know what each food additive does?

Ingredient List

Crust: wheat four with malted barley flour, water, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean and/or cottonseed oil) with soy lecithin, artificial flavor and artificial color (beta carotene), soybean oil, yeast, high fructose corn syrup, salt, calcium propionate added to retard spoilage of crust, 1-cysteine monohydrochloride.

Sauce: tomato puree (water, tomato paste), water green peppers, salt, lactose and flavoring, modified food starch, sugar, corn oil, xanthan gum, garlic powder.

Topping: low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes.

Additives in List Soy Lecithin = Emulsifier Beta Carotene - Color High Fructose Corn Syrup = Flavoring Calcium Propionate = Preservative 1-cysteine monohydrochloride =

Dough Conditioner Xanthan Gum = Thickener