What About Those Extra Ingredients?
adapted from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
For centuries, ingredients have served useful functions in a variety of foods. Today, consumers demand a food supply that is flavorful, nutritious, safe,
convenient, colorful, and affordable. Food additives and advances in technology help make that possible. There are thousands of ingredients used to
make foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a list of over 3,000 ingredients in its data base. Still, some consumers have concerns
about additives. They often see the long, unfamiliar names and think of them as complex chemical compounds. In fact, every food we eat is made up of
chemical compounds that determine flavor, color, texture, and nutrient value. All food additives are carefully regulated by federal authorities to ensure that
foods are safe to eat and are accurately labeled.
A food additive is any substance added to food. Legally, the term refers to "any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be
expected to result-directly or indirectly in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food." Direct food additives are
those that are added to a food for a specific purpose in that food. Most direct additives are identified on the ingredient label. Indirect food additives are
those that become part of the food in trace amounts due to its packaging, storage, or other handling. Food packaging manufacturers must prove to the
FDA that all materials coming in contact with food are safe before they are permitted for use in such a manner.
A color additive is any dye, pigment, or substance that when added or applied to a food, drug, or cosmetic, or to the human body, is capable of
imparting color. The FDA is responsible for regulating all color additives. The FDA ensures that foods containing color additives are safe, contain only
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Match each statement from the passage with the message it represents.
rights reserved.
People need to submit a
petition to the government
asking for more research
about additives they are
concerned about.
It is important to take the
time to learn the chemical
makeup of foods before
People can trust that there
are no harmful side effects
from the ingredients in
their food.
The presence of chemicals
in additives should not
be a cause for concern.