Food additive

How it is used

Food additives must be approved, and regulations list the foods they may be used in and their maximum levels. In the EU and Turkey they carry E numbers on labels. Common classes are preservatives, antioxidants, colors, emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners and sweeteners. People often just say 'additives'.

Example sentences

1. The customer wants a clean label, so we are trying to replace two food additives with natural ingredients.

2. Check the maximum permitted level of this food additive in soft drinks before you change the formula.

Common collocations

• permitted food additive
• maximum permitted level
• additive-free
• functional class
• use a food additive

Related terms

• E numberA code made of the letter E and a number, such as E330 for citric acid, that identifies a food additive approved for use in the European Union.
• preservativeA food additive that slows down the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds, helping the product stay safe and acceptable for longer.
• emulsifierA substance that helps oil and water mix and stay mixed, as in mayonnaise, margarine, ice cream or chocolate.
• sweetenerA substance used to give food a sweet taste; it often means intense sweeteners such as sucralose or stevia, which are much sweeter than sugar and add few or no calories.
• ingredientAny substance, including additives, that is used to make a food and is still present in the finished product, even if in a changed form.

More terms: Ingredients and Additives

• stabilizer
• thickener
• antioxidant
• flavoring