Today many people believe that the food they consume is
unhealthy because of the 2,800 generally recognized as safe (GRAS) food additives
that can be put into food during production, processing, and preparation. But should these additives be banned?
Food
additives refer to substances added to food to provide color or flavor, replace
sugar or flat, or improve nutritional content, texture, or shelf life. Food additives must undergo FDA testing and
approval to ensure that the benefits outweigh any risks associated with these
additives. For example, emulsifiers help
to give peanut butter a more consistent texture and prevent separation while
stabilizers and thickeners can ice cream a smooth, uniform texture. Preservatives such as antioxidants prevent
apples from turning brown from exposure to air and fats and oils in baked goods
from spoiling. The three most common
additives are sugar, salt, and corn syrup.
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