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VOL. 10, ISSUE 3 (2025)
The secret ingredients: Decoding food additives
Authors
Sachna Shah, Suman KT, Seeja Thomachan Panjikkaran, Sharon CL, Aneena ER
Abstract
The expansion of the food industry to meet consumer demand for
processed foods has significantly increased the use of food additives. Although
food manufacturers must list additives on product labels, the technical terms
used often confuse or mislead consumers. Additives are sometimes called
"secret ingredients" due to the perceived lack of transparency and
the complexity of labelling practices. Additives are crucial for improving the
quality, safety, and appeal of processed foods. They are substances, natural or
synthetic, added to foods for technical purposes and are regulated to ensure
consumer safety and health. Food additives can be categorized into nutritive
additives, processing agents, preservatives, and sensory agents (Thakur et
al., 2022) [30, 31]. Nutritional additives, such as vitamins and minerals, replenish
nutrients lost during processing or fortifying foods. Processing agents achieve
specific technological effects. Preservatives, both antimicrobial and
antioxidant, extend shelf life by preventing microbial growth. Mostafa et al.
(2018) [23] demonstrated that plant-based preservatives like pomegranate and clove
extracts show strong antimicrobial activity. Sensory agents include colourants,
flavourings, and sweeteners, which enhance appearance and taste. Studies by
Ahmed et al. (2021) [3] noted excessive
artificial colour use in processed foods for children, surpassing permissible
levels. Additionally, prolonged intake of aspartame, a synthetic sweetener, has
shown adverse effects on liver health in animal studies (Abhilash et al.,
2011) [1]. Regulatory bodies like the FDA, EFSA, and FSSAI oversee
the safety and permissible use of food additives, setting acceptable daily
intake (ADI) levels. Systems such as E numbers and INS numbers standardize additive
identification globally. However, excessive additive consumption can lead to
allergies, liver damage, cancer, or hyperactivity in children (Baig and Kasim,
2018) [7]. While food additives improve safety and shelf life, consumer
awareness is vital to ensure their responsible use for a safe, diverse food
supply (Sun et al., 2021) [28, 29]
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Pages:60-68
How to cite this article:
Sachna Shah, Suman KT, Seeja Thomachan Panjikkaran, Sharon CL, Aneena ER "The secret ingredients: Decoding food additives". International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, Vol 10, Issue 3, 2025, Pages 60-68
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