Our bodies depend on the food we eat to function normally. But how
many of us know what we are eating? We might think, for example,
that a packet of vegetable soup only contains dried vegetables.
However, this is not the case. It also contains additives. These are put
into food for a number of reasons, and are grouped according to what
they do.
There are four main groups: preservatives, which prevent the growth
of micro-organisms which would spoil the taste or make the food
dangerous to eat; anti-oxidants, which stop the food from becoming
spoiled as a result of contact with air; stabilisers and emulsifiers, both
of which make sure that the ingredients mix and do not separate out
again; and colouring agents which colour the food in order to make it
look more attractive.
A typical packet or tin of vegetable soup will contain additives from
all these groups. And it's not just packaged convenience foods that
contain additives. Cheese, carbonated or fizzy drinks, margarine,
biscuits, jam, tinned fish also contain them. In fact, any factory-made
food does so.
In several countries, the use of food additives is controlled by
government regulations. The UK list of permitted additives is based on
a list produced by the European Community (EC). Additives on the EC
list are generally assumed to be safe to use. However, some people
have expressed doubts about the safety of some of them, and some are
not allowed in the United States. This is sufficient cause for concern,
particularly when we consider that small amounts of additives soon add
up. (It is estimated that each member of the British population eats
between three and seven kilograms of additives per year.) Is it right that
potentially harmful substances are put into our food without our
knowledge?
From the point of view of the health of the consumer, the answer
appears obvious, but ending the use of additives would have
far-reaching effects. It would mean only eating fresh, locally produced
food. People would have to spend much more *ime in the kitchen as
there would no longer be such a thing as supermarket convenience
food. This would not be acceptable to many consumers iuid certainly
not to the convenience food manufacturers. So it seems that additives
are here to stay
