Examples of Food Additives
- Diacetyl: A chemical found in butter flavoring.
- Azodicarbonamide: A chemical substance that whitens cereal flour, used in breakfast cereals and bread.
- Acesulfame potassium: A potassium salt used in protein shakes and as an artificial sweetener in drinks.
- Xanthan gum: Sugar-like compound used to make medicine that lowers blood sugar and cholesterol. Also found in toothpaste.
- High fructose corn syrup: A sweetener made from cornstarch that is processed and is found in soda and fruit-flavored drinks.
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG): A flavor enhancer commonly found in Chinese food, canned products and processed meats.
- Dihydrogen monoxide: Chemical compound that is used as an industrial solvent and coolant.
- Sodium benzoate: Food preservative that occurs naturally in cranberries, apples and other fruits. It’s also found in processed food and soft drinks.
- Chlorophyll: This is a green pigment found in plants, it’s used in processed foods as an additive that helps preserve the green color in foods like canned vegetables.
- Beta carotene: A reddish orange pigment found in plants and fruits, it is also used as that rich beautiful color that canned carrots have.
While many of us think that the sole purpose of this book is to encourage people to skip the processed food aisle at the supermarket—it’s not. They chose additives that they could categorize into neutral, negative and positive, that way the book wouldn’t lean too heavily to one direction. It’s more about educating where these ingredients come from and seeing what they look like. Each photo in the book gives a clear look of the additive’s color and texture, as well as additive trivia, where we can learn a thing or two about our favorite processed foods. You will learn more about the additives, where they come from, and how they are used. Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products could be found at your local book store.