Chapter 5 : Chemicals For Consumers

5.2 FOOD ADDITIVES

ACTIVITY 1

1. A food additive is a natural or synthetic substance which is added to food to_________________

or ____________________its appearance, ________________ or ____________________

2. Complete the chart.

Types of additives

3. Complete the following table.

Type of food State the function Give two examples
additive.
To slow down the growth of Salt, vinegar, benzoic acid.
microorganisms so that food can be kept
for longer periods of time.
To prevent oxidation that causes rancid Vitamins C and E
fats and brown fruits

To improve the taste of food and restore

taste loss due to processing.
To prevent emulsion from separating out

To thicken food

To add or restore the color in food to

enhance
Its visual appeal.

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using food additives?

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

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 Chapter 5 : Chemicals For Consumers
5. Figure 5.6 shows a part of the label of a tin of baked beans.

a) State the food additives present in the food.

Baked beans in tomato sauce

Ingredients:
Beans, sugar, tomato puree, salt and
spice, permitted modified starch.

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b) To which type of food additives does each of the ingredients mentioned in (a) belong
Food additives present in baked beans in Type of food additives
tomato sauce

6. Sugar is used as food preservative as well as for sweetening. Patients with medical
conditions such as diabetes mellitus or obesity must be wary of their intake of sugar.

a) i) Name one artificial sweetener that can replace sugar.

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ii) Name one natural sweetener that can replace sugar.

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b) Artificial food colorings are used in some processed foods. Suggest two reasons for using
food coloring.

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