Name: Classification of Drugs
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 45 s
Description: Drugs are classified on the basis of their physiological effects on our body. Also, they are identified based on their chemical nature, biochemical processes...

Question

What are food additives? Discuss briefly the various types of food additives.

Accepted Answer

All those chemicals which are added to food to improve its shelf life, taste, appearance, odour and nutritive value are termed as food additives. The three main types of food additives are:

1. Preservatives: These are the chemicals which are capable of inhibiting or arresting the process of fermentation, acidification or other decomposition of food caused by bacteria, yeasts and moulds.

For example, salt, sugar, oil, sodium benzoate, sodium metabisulphite, etc.

2. Artificial sweetener: Natural sweeteners such as sucrose and fructose increase the calorie intake and decays the tooth. To control the sugar intake artificial sweeteners are introduced.

For example,

Saccharin, a most popular sweetening agent. It is insoluble in water, but its sodium salt is water-soluble.

Aspartame, it is most efficient and widely used. It is a methyl ester of the dipeptide derived from phenylalanine and aspartic acid.

3. Antioxidant: These are the chemicals which are added to processed food such as potato chips, biscuits, breakfast cereals, etc., to prevent the oxidation of fats and oils and subsequent spoilage of food.

For example, ascorbic acid, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, etc.

What are food additives? Discuss briefly the various types of food additives.

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