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Food additives are divided into natural ones, which are extracted from materials found in nature, and artificial ones, which are synthesized entirely in the laboratory.

These substances cannot be consumed independently and their use in unprocessed foods is prohibited by law. Spices, herbs and flavorings in general are excluded from this category.

They are mainly used by the food industry to improve or preserve the natural flavor of the food, preserve or extend its shelf life, facilitate production conditions, optimize appearance, and enhance its nutritional value. They are listed on food labels by their scientific name or with an E code.

The need to control their content in foods came from the property of all nutrients to be harmful to the human body if certain dosages are exceeded.

How to avoid them:

• Buy fresh or frozen – Prefer fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.
• Consume less processed meat – Try to avoid such foods as hot dogs, ham and meat in ready meals, especially during pregnancy.
• Wash plastic containers and utensils by hand & not in the dishwasher – Heat can cause diffusion & solubility of harmful substances such as diethanol & phthalates. In addition, avoid using microwaves in non-approved utensils.
• Use stainless steel & glass cookware – When serving hot meals or when cooking, avoid using plastic and prefer glass or stainless steel cookware
• Choose recyclable plastic utensils – Take a look at the back of the packaging and see which category of plastic it belongs to. The most important thing is to allow its use with food.
• Choose products with as few preservatives as possible. It is legitimate to show interest in foods and their packaging as this way we can also evaluate differences in nutritional quality.

The future

Many new techniques have been researched that will improve the production of food additives in the future. One approach is the use of biotechnology, which uses simple organisms to produce food. This type of additives is identical to the ingredients found in nature.

Don’t forget… 

Despite the fact that there are various ways to reduce additives from our diet, don’t forget that we will always have international food control bodies as our allies whose goal is to keep us healthy.