The Impact of Food Additives on Human Health

Food additives have become a mainstay in processed foods and may contain food additives that serve a purpose when taken in moderation. While there may be myths regarding these additives, most are safe when taken as instructed and serve an important function when consumed responsibly.

JECFA, the joint FAO/WHO body that sets Codex standards for international trade of food, conducts extensive safety evaluations for all additives used in food. Based on how they function, they fall into four general categories.

Preservatives

Preservatives are added to food and medicines to prevent spoilage, but they may also alter flavor or color. Most are synthetic while a few come from natural sources; both types should generally be safe if consumed in small amounts, notes Lui.

However, certain foods may pose health concerns if consumed frequently – for instance nitrates and nitrites used in processed meats can convert to carcinogens within the body, and artificial colours have also been linked with hyperactivity in children – although this claim has yet to be confirmed by researchers.

To avoid additives, choose fresh foods over processed ones and carefully read food labels. Shop at farmers markets or sign up for a CSA delivery to purchase fresh ingredients; cook meals at home; avoid snack foods; try not to snack during meals at work and keep hydrated throughout the day. It is also crucial that we understand how certain ingredients may impact our long-term health in order to make informed choices when it comes to what food we eat.

Stabiliser

Stabilisers are food additives used to maintain food products’ structure and consistency. They can either be natural or synthetic and produced through chemical synthesis or using other raw materials such as proteins, sugars or plants as raw materials.

Stabilisers help prevent oil and water separation (the sludge-like appearance on the bottom of packaged salad dressing), enhance firmness by reducing flexibility, controlling viscosity, preventing temperature or pH changes, increasing shelf life, adding flavor, color and aroma, as well as optimizing production costs. Incorporating stabilisers into balanced diets in accordance with food safety standards is generally safe.

Recent research has demonstrated that certain commonly used stabilisers can alter gut microbiota and host health, leading to metabolic disorders. Therefore, careful consideration must be taken before choosing stabilisers as part of any medication regime.

Colour

Color plays an influential role in every aspect of our daily lives, from our mood and workplace performance and productivity to design projects and sports endeavors. Marketing, design and sports industries use colors strategically in their goals for success.

Some synthetic food additives have been known to have negative health implications. Artificial food colors have been linked with childhood hyperactivity and may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Furthermore, sodium nitrates and nitrites found in processed meats have been found to disrupt thyroid function, disrupt early brain development, and increase cancer risks significantly.

Researchers study the psychological effects of color through experimental and simulation-based methods. Recent advancements in evolutionary psychology, emotion science, retinal physiology, person perception research have further strengthened research in this area.

Sweetener

Sweeteners are chemical compounds with no or low caloric intake that can be added to food and drink for their sweetness without adding calories, making them ideal alternatives to sugar as a means to combat obesity and overweightness.

Food additives undergo extensive scrutiny at both national and international levels before being approved for use, from animal tests to research studies to establish an acceptable daily intake (ADI). This number indicates how much an additive can be consumed daily without harmful side effects.

Aspartame can pose a potential concern to those suffering from Phenylketonuria as it contains phenylalanine that cannot be broken down by people living with PKU. However, more long term human studies need to take place before fully determining its safety.

Flavour

Modern food products contain numerous additives – synthetic chemicals added to food to preserve, color or enhance its flavor – some of which may be controversial but most are considered safe for human consumption.

Flavour is an inextricably linked combination of taste, smell, memory and personal experience that transports us back to when we first tasted summer strawberries or reminded us of greasy fast food after an evening out.

Food additives come in all sorts of varieties, from preservatives and sweeteners to emulsifiers, thickeners and colourants. Natural or artificial, food additives come from plants and animals alike – for instance MSG can cause headaches and nausea as an example of artificial additives with negative health impacts.