Food Additives Overview

Exam Information

• The first exam was on October 10th, 2024.
• The second exam is scheduled for November 7th, 2024.
• The third exam is scheduled for December 12th, 2023.
• The final exam date is January 9th, 2024 at 3 PM.

Food Additives

• Food additives are substances added to food to affect its characteristics, such as taste, texture, or shelf life.
• The European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) use a numbering scheme (E numbers) to identify food additives.
• The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is responsible for the safety assessment and approval of E numbers.
• E numbers are classified into groups based on the substance's function, including colors, preservatives, antioxidants, thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, etc.

Preservatives

• Preservatives help extend the shelf life of food by inhibiting microbial growth.
• Common examples of preservatives include benzoates (E200-E211) and sorbates (E203).
• Preservatives have numerous applications in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pigments, dyes, biological substances, and wood.

Antioxidants

• Antioxidants prevent oxidation, which can degrade food quality and alter taste and appearance.
• Examples of antioxidants include vitamin C (ascorbic acid, E300), gallic acid, and others.

Emulsifiers

• Emulsifiers stabilize mixtures like mayonnaise and margarine, preventing separation into different phases.
• Glycerol (E422) is a common emulsifier.

Home Pharmacy

• Home pharmacy refers to essential medications and supplies kept at home for personal use.
• Common household medications include painkillers, stomach disorder remedies, eye and ear drops, antiseptics, cough suppressants, diarrhea medication, and blood circulation enhancers.

Pain Relievers

• Ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was discovered in 1961.
• Paracetamol, an effective painkiller, was synthesized in 1877 and tested on humans in 1887.
• Aspirin, a well-known painkiller, can also reduce inflammation. It was first synthesized in 1853 and later improved by Bayer in 1897-1899.

Stomach Disorder Medications

• Rennie neutralizes gastric acid, reducing stomach pain.
• Alka-Seltzer, a drink, is used to relieve hangovers, headaches, and stomach discomfort.
• Ranigast reduces heartburn by decreasing stomach acid production.

Eye and Ear Drops

• Optrex soothes irritated and tired eyes and cleanses them.
• Common ingredients in eye and ear drops include water, boric acid, glycerol, gallotannin, witch-hazel extract, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, benzalkonium chloride, and calcium oxalate.

Antiseptic Products

• Antiseptic hand rubs typically contain ethanol (alcohol) as the main active ingredient, along with glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, and other additives.
• Glycerol is added as a humectant to improve the product's feel and reduce stickiness.
• Hydrogen peroxide is included for its antimicrobial properties and to help eliminate bacterial spores in the solution.

Additional Medicine Components

• Many pills and medications contain additional components that are not harmful and are used to adjust shape, coating, consistency, taste, and smell.

This quiz covers the fundamentals of food additives, including their functions, classifications, and regulatory aspects in the EU. It particularly emphasizes the E numbering system and the role of preservatives in extending shelf life. Test your knowledge on the various types of food additives and their applications.