Organic Chemistry In Daily Life: Food Additives

Food additives- something we use to love and hate

Have you ever wondered what gives a beautiful texture and an appealing appearance to the manufactured food? Do you know what the chemical additives are that make the food last longer and stay fresh? That’s food additive! You can barely avoid consuming products that contains food additives because even organic products use them.

In 21^st century, development in food engineering and food technology becomes more advanced and this has led to the discovery of numerous new substances which are able to fulfill multiple functions in foods. Nevertheless, some food additives cause side effects and endanger human’s health. Therefore, knowing the chemical behind the food additive is very crucial in order to keep one’s life healthy and good.

What is food additive?

Food additives are chemical substances added to food in certain quantities for specific purposes such as enhancing its taste and texture or maintaining the shelf- life of food and improving its appearance. Most food additives labeling can be found on a product, together with nutrition information and other ingredients.

Food additives can be divided into several groups, even though overlapping occurs between them.

Food additives	Uses	Example of food that used that particular food additives
1. Acids	- to act as an antioxidant and preservatives - to add tartness to the flavor of food	- ketchup
2. Food coloring	- to improve appearance - to replace colour lost during preparation	- candies - yogurt - flavored popcorn
3. Emulsifiers	- to let water and oil remain mixed together in emulsion	- mayonnaise - ice cream
4. Food flavoring	- to make the food taste better - to enhance the flavor	- jam - instant noodle
5. Humectant	- to remain the moisture of food	- semi-moist raisins - cheese
6. Preservatives	- to prevent the growth of microorganism	- pickles - carbonated drinks
7. Stabilizers	- to provide a firmer texture to the food	- peanut butter - ice cream
8. Sweetener	- to substitute the sweetness normal provided by sugars in foods without contributing significantly to their available energy	- low-fat flavored milk - jellies
9. Thickeners	- to prevent the food from liquefying	- sauce - jellies

Organic chemical found in food additives

Organic chemical	Uses	Hazardous causes
1. Polysorbate 80 - an emulsifier commonly used in food - it is a synthetic compound - it is a viscous and water soluble yellow liquid	- to act as an emulsifier in food - to make food like ice-cream be easy to handle and smoother	- it will affect the immune system - to increase the risk of getting heart attack or stroke
2. Propyl gallate - a.k.a. 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate - an ester formed by the condensation of gallic acid and propanol	- to act as an antioxidant ( can be found in chewing gum, meat products and breakfast cereal)	- it can link to cancer - certain possible reactions may occur in human like asthma attacks and allergic reactions
3. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) - an antioxidant consisting of a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds - it is a waxy solid	- it is used as an antioxidant as well as preservative in food - to prevent food from spoiling ( can be found in chewing gum, potato chips and candy)	- it causes hyperactivity, asthma and tumor growth
4. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) - a lipophilic organic compound	- to act as an antioxidant - to prevent food from oxidizing	- it forms cancer-causing reactive compound in human’s body
5. Aspartame - an artificial and low-calorie sweetener	- to sweeten different kind of food and beverages ( can be found in sugar-free beverages, power bars and some brands of chewable vitamin supplements)	- it leads to dizziness, headache and blurred vision
6. Sucralose - a chlorinated sugar - a common chlorocarbon	- to act as sweetener in a variety of food and beverages ( can be found in pudding, some diet soda and sugar-free food)	- it results in swelling of liver and kidney
7. Indigo dye - an organic compound with a distinctive blue colour	- to act as an artificial coloring ( can be found in candy and soft drinks)	- it can cause cancer - it can also damage chromosomes
8. Azodicarbonamide - a yellow to orange red, odorless, crystalline powder	- to be used as a flour bleaching agent and dough conditioner ( can be found in bread and other bakery products)	- it can lead to asthma and allergies