BY SANORA & LOUISE

Food Additives

What Are Food Additives?

Anything added to food by manufacturers. Additives are used to: Preserve or add flavor Keep from going bad Improve nutritional valueEnhance taste, appearance, smell, color. Natural Additives:Salt – prevents meat from spoilingVinegar – Used for pickling

Different Types of Additives

SweetenersThickenersPreservativesAcidsFood ColoringEmulsifiersHumectantsExample: Liquid Diacetyl - Used in cottage

cheese to produce a buttery aroma.

There are both natural and artificial food additives. It is very common for artificial additives to have negative effects on our health. BHA and BHT is are preservatives used in oily foods to prevent them from going rancid. Some studies have shown that these chemicals are possibly carcinogenic to humans– cancer-causing.

Negative Effects of Additives

BHT & BHA – Shown to be possibly carcinogenic (Cancer causing).

Examples: Meats, cereal, beer, butter, chewing gum, snack foods and animal foods.

Sodium Nitrate – Highly carcinogenic. Examples: Hotdogs, ham, bacon,

balogna and any other type of processed meat.

Aspartame – Artificial sweetener. Linked to lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer.

Examples: Diet soda and food, drink mixes, low-calorie desserts, chewing gum

Can induce hunger, causing people to eat more.

Partially Hydrogenated vegetable oils – Extends shelf life. Produces trans fat which can lead to heart disease.

Examples: Margarine, deep fried foods, cookies, baked goods, snack food.

How to Avoid Harmful Additives?

Mostly in processed/prepackaged food

Eat fresh food that doesn’t last for weeks

Buy local and organicNo fried, processed, or sugary foodAvoid brightly colored snacksNo “convenience” food

Additives Word Search

http://www.what2learn.com/games/play/12289Find the words that match the description. The letters can go in any direction.