What do we mean by food additives? Is it a type of food? The answer is no; basically, food additives are substances used to preserve food from decaying its nutritional value, taste, freshness, and many other aspects. The most common food additive is salt, commonly used in all households. Another common preservative is onion; yes, onion is also a type of additive used to prevent food from spoiling and harmful bacteria as well.
Some other persevere are also used in large-scale businesses. Still, these types of food additives are generally artificial and may sometimes compromise food quality but do not harm too much. Also, food additives are essential on a large scale because many food items need to be preserved for a long time. Typical industries in which food and beverages are preserved are Meat Industries, Alcohol Industries, and many other productions that commonly use food additives at a very high rate because, in the food industry, food preservation is a must.
Natural Additives
Natural food preservatives do not need to be more processed; they are naturally in nature; one of the best examples is salt; you have to remember that salt is added to most eatables. Salt is indeed added to give a taste, but it is also a type of preservative. Shockingly sugar is also a type of food additive, not only sugar.
Vinegar is used in all pickles to prevent them from changing their taste. These natural perseveres are readily available and are very cost-efficient. Also, if you need to preserve any food item for a short time, you can use natural preservatives because natural food additives are the best choice in this condition.
Nitrites
The most common perseveres used in meat industries is nitrite; basically, it consists of nitrogen bonding with two atoms of oxygen. The working of nitrate preservatives prevents bacteria spoilage so that the life and freshness of meat remain. This Nitrate is broken down into nitrite while protecting from the bacteria.
But don’t be confused in that all nitrates are edible because some are poisonous and may also react with your body cells. So the primary function of nitrate additives is to eliminate the bacteria from the meat food.
BHT And BHA
BHT is also known as Butylated Hydroxytoluene 321, whereas the BHA stands for Butylated Hydroxytoluene 320. These persevere completely artificial preservatives have molecular formula C15H24O. BHA and BHT are commonly used in the food packaging and animal feed industries.
But if you use these perseveres greatly, it is very harmful. Also, research is conducted in which it is found that if it is not widely used, it can be because of cancer in the animal body. But don’t be stressed. It happens when we use an excess amount. So although it is very popular and widely used perseveres with excellent protection.
Sodium Sulphites
There are various sulfites used in food additives; some of the common uses of sulfites are in squashes and many other acidic foods. The general formula of sodium sulfite is SO2, and its primary use is to kill bacteria and harmful germs in food.
The primary industries that use sodium sulfites are Packaging and, most commonly, beverage industries. However, it is sometimes used in the water treatment plant because its primary function is to kill germs and bacteria from food and water.
Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that are used as a catalysts in biochemical reactions. It is one of the best natural preservatives that can take the place of chemical food additives because they preserve the food’s natural properties.
Enzymes can be extracted directly from plants and animal products such as milk, curd, and many more dietary items. Commonly enzymes are used in milk products; one of the great examples is curd; lacto acid is the enzyme that helps prevent curd from spoiling.
Bonus Information
You can choose natural or artificial food additives, but the additives’ work is that natural additives are commonly used in homes and for a few days prevention of food. At the same time, artificial is used in large-scale businesses to prevent food for a long time.
