| By :
Eva Judge
As the modern consumer becomes better educated every year about the products they buy, they are demanding more information about everything from the raw materials to the manufacturing process right through to storage, packaging and transport methods. No where is this more prevalent than in the food processing industry, where manufacturers have to be aware of and follow government regulations and food standards governing both manufacturing and packaging. Consumer groups keep a particularly close eye on food additives and how the information on the packaging is presented to the consumer, raising concerns if something has been missed or, worse still, misrepresented. Food Standards bodies of different countries are responsible for the development of standards for both primary production and processed food, including those for food additives. A major issue of concern for consumers is that while they know that additives are necessary, they don't know how to find out what they are. They don't realize that all food packaging must clearly disclose all ingredients in the product, in a standardized ingredients list, including additives. Food additives are chemical substances, similar to the thousands of chemical substances occurring naturally in food. The human body can't tell the difference between the natural chemical substances and the chemical additive. Because the names given to these additives are generally long, scientific ones, the name is followed by a number or code which makes the substance easier to identify. For people wanting further information, certain websites have food additives listed in both alphabetical and numerical order, so it is possible to identify a chemical additive from the ingredient list, then look it up to get its name and research its composition and usage. This is particularly useful for people who have allergies to some additives, or for the curious among us who just need to know what they are eating. There are a number of reasons for the use of additives. One is to improve the taste or appearance of processed food, another to improve the keeping quality and stability of food and a third to extend its storage life. Before they can be passed for human consumption, additives must be approved by the Food Standards body and only after extensive testing. The testing determines if the additive is safe in the quantity requested, if there are sound technological reasons for its use and to ensure that consumers are advised of its presence in food. Food additives can be a complex and confusing area, and consumers should be aware that packaging suppliers are willing to answer any questions about the additives mentioned in the labeling on their packaging.
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