Food Additives

Food additives are substances that have been added to food either accidentally or on purpose. They are added intentionally for a variety of reasons including to slow down spoilage, to enhance color and flavor, and to improve texture and nutrient density. They are added accidentally due to food processing, packaging and storage methods.

The desirability of adding foreign substances to our food supply has been the subject of a great deal of controversy. The FDA has instituted regulations to control these substances, and is constantly re-evaluating their standards.

Here is a list of common food additives that are added intentionally by food manufacturers.

Click here for a printable copy of this list.

This is a list of additives that are put in foods on purpose. There is also a list of foods that appear in foods unintentionally. These include, dioxins, pesticides, acrylamide, methylene chloride, BPA, hormones, antibiotics, bug parts, rat fecal hairs. Some of these substances, such as BPA and dioxins from plastics, are being studied for their potential as health hazards.

This list would also include things like peanut residue and soy that are not normally part of the food product but were added inadvertently during processing. Both peanut and soy allergies are fairly common, so these accidental additives may cause serious problems.

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