Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A) PRESERVATIVES
- Preservatives are substances added to food to slow down or prevent the growth of
microorganisms, so that food can be kept for longer period of time.
Sugar
Function : Draws out water from the cells of microorganism and retards the growth.
Found in : jelly, fruit jams and pickles fruit.
Vinegar
Function : Provide acidic medium that prevent the growth of microorganism.
Found in : pickled fruits, chili and vegetables.
Sulphur dioxide
Function : Prevent the growth of microorganism.
Found in : soft drinks and sauces.
B) ANTIOXIDANTS
- Antioxidants are added to prevent oxidation of fats and oils.
- Oxidation of fats and oils in food cause it to become rancid.
- Oxidation of fruits causes brown fruits.
- Examples :
a) ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
b) tocopherol (vitamin E)
c) sodium citrate
d) butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
e) butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
c) Aspartame,
D) STABILIZER
- Stabilizers helps to prevent an emulsion from separating out.
- Examples of stabilizer are
a. Lecithin,
b. Mono-glyceride of fatty acids
c. Di-glyceride of fatty acids
- Stabilizers are used in margarine, butter, ice cream and salad cream (mayonnaise,
thousand island etc)
E) THICKENERS
- Thickeners are often added to food to alter the texture of food (thicken foods)
- Examples :
a) Starch - used in instant soup and puddings
b) Pectin - used in making of jams and jelly
c) Acacia gum - used to thicken chewing gum, jelly and wine
d) Gelatine – used in yogurt
F) FOOD DYES
- Food Colouring are dyes.
- Food dyes are used to add or restore the colour in food due to food processing.
- Food Dyes are normally azo compounds or triphenyl compounds.
Examples of Food Dyes
- Tartrazine
a yellow dyes from azo compound
used in orange drinks, custard powder, sweets and apricot jam
Is believed to cause hyperactivity in children
- Brilliant Blue FCF
blue triphenyl dye
used in sweets
- Anthocyanin
Found naturally in red grapes, red cabbages and sweet potatoe
contains antioxidant properties
Effect of Food Additives on Health
- Sodium nitrite -
Can cause cancer
- Sodium benzoate
Affect nerve function
Cause allergy
- Tartrazine
Can worsen the condition of asthma patients
Cause hyperactivity in children
- Colouring substance eg. // Amaranth, sunset yellow, ponceau 4R
Cause cancer, migraine, allergy and deformity of babies
- Monosodium Glutamate
Cause health problem form long term used like headaches, difficulties in breathing, vomiting.