Why add food additives?

Food additives refer to chemically synthesized or natural substances intentionally added to food to improve its quality, color, aroma, and taste, as well as to meet the requirements of preservation, preservation, and processing technology. These additives include but are not limited to preservatives, antioxidants, colorants, thickeners, sweeteners, sourers, emulsifiers, nutritional enhancers, etc. Some of them can prevent food from spoiling, some can make the color of the food more attractive, some can make the taste of the food better, and some can increase the nutritional value of the food.

So would a “zero-added” food be safer?

“Zero add” or “no add” products do not necessarily mean safer or healthier, which mainly depends mainly on the specific product type, composition, and the specific meaning of “zero addition”.

In the food industry, “zero addition” usually refers to the product without artificial pigments, preservatives, spices, sweeteners and other food additives. In reasonable use, food additives are usually after safety assessment and meet the requirements of regulations. For example, the existence of preservatives is to prevent the growth of microorganisms and avoid food spoilage, so as to ensure food safety.

However, some “zero addition” products may have used natural ingredients as alternatives, such as the use of natural preservatives instead of chemical preservatives. However, this does not automatically mean that the product is safer, as natural ingredients can also cause allergies or other adverse reactions.

Some “zero-added” foods may be more prone to deterioration due to a lack of preservatives, thus requiring more attention to preservation and cooking methods. Also, “zero addition” does not mean that this food is necessarily healthier than other foods. Some additives do not have a negative impact on human health, and under the use of appropriate amount, additives can improve the taste and nutritional value of food.

To sum up, consumers should choose according to their own situation and needs when choosing food. At the same time, we also need to recognize that “zero addition” does not mean that there is no risk to this food. When choosing “zero addition” food, we need to pay attention to the source and quality of food to ensure the selection of safe and healthy food.