NEET PG High-Yield: Food Additives
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor, enhance taste, appearance, or other sensory qualities. Regulation is handled by agencies like FSSAI (India) or the FDA.
Common Categories
| Category | Function/Examples |
|---|---|
| Preservatives | Inhibit microbial growth (e.g., Benzoic acid, Nitrites, Sulfites). |
| Antioxidants | Prevent rancidity (e.g., BHA, BHT, Vitamin C/E). |
| Coloring Agents | Enhance appearance (e.g., Tartrazine, Carmoisine). |
| Sweeteners | Non-nutritive (e.g., Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose). |
High-Yield NEET PG Pearls:
- Nitrites/Nitrates: Used in cured meats; concern is the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines.
- Saccharin: One of the oldest artificial sweeteners; concerns regarding carcinogenicity in animal studies have been extensively studied.
- ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake): The amount of an additive that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk.
- Labeling: Mandatory declaration of additives is a key requirement in consumer safety and public health legislation.