Food additive functions
Discover the roles food additives play across the industry. Each function below includes a short definition and the number of additives that use it.
Stabilizer
A food additive, which makes it possible to maintain a uniform dispersion of two or more components.
176 additives use this function.
Acidity regulator
Acidity regulators are substances which alter or control the acidity or alkalinity of a foodstuff.
115 additives use this function.
Emulsifier
Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
92 additives use this function.
Colour
Colours are substances which add or restore colour in a food, and include natural constituents of foods and natural sources which are normally not consumed as foods as such and not normally used as characteristic ingredients of food.
83 additives use this function.
Thickener
Thickeners are substances which increase the viscosity of a foodstuff.
82 additives use this function.
Sequestrant
Sequestrants are substances which form chemical complexes with metallic ions.
70 additives use this function.
Preservative
Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
60 additives use this function.
Antioxidant
Antioxidants are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by oxidation, such as fat rancidity and colour changes.
51 additives use this function.
Anticaking agent
Anti-caking agents are substances which reduce the tendency of individual particles of a foodstuff to adhere to one another.
39 additives use this function.
Flavour enhancer
Flavour enhancers are substances which enhance the existing taste and/or odour of a foodstuff.
32 additives use this function.
Glazing agent
Glazing agents -including lubricants- are substances which, when applied to the external surface of a foodstuff, impart a shiny appearance or provide a protective coating.
30 additives use this function.
Raising agent
Raising agents are substances or combinations of substances which liberate gas and thereby increase the volume of a dough or a batter.
30 additives use this function.
Sweetener
Sweeteners are substances used to impart a sweet taste to foods or in table-top sweeteners.
30 additives use this function.
Carrier
A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function -and without exerting any technological effect itself- in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
28 additives use this function.
Flour treatment agent
Flour treatment agents are substances, other than emulsifiers, which are added to flour or dough to improve its baking quality.
26 additives use this function.
Emulsifying salt
A food additive, which, in the manufacture of processed food, rearranges proteins in order to prevent fat separation.
24 additives use this function.
Gelling agent
Gelling agents are substances which give a foodstuff texture through formation of a gel.
20 additives use this function.
Humectant
Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.
18 additives use this function.
Bulking agent
Bulking agents are substances which contribute to the volume of a foodstuff without contributing significantly to its available energy value.
15 additives use this function.
Firming agent
Firming agents are substances which make or keep tissues of fruit or vegetables firm or crisp, or interact with gelling agents to produce or strengthen a gel.
10 additives use this function.
Propellant
A food additive gas, which expels a food from a container.
10 additives use this function.
Colour retention agent
A food additive, which stabilizes, retains or intensifies the colour of a food.
9 additives use this function.
Bleaching agent
A food additive -non-flour use- used to decolourize food. Bleaching agents do not include pigments.
7 additives use this function.
Packaging gas
A food additive gas, which is introduced into a container before, during or after filling with food with the intention to protect the food, for example, from oxidation or spoilage.
7 additives use this function.
Antifoaming agent
Anti-foaming agents are substances which prevent or reduce foaming.
5 additives use this function.
Foaming agent
Foaming agents are substances which make it possible to form a homogenous dispersion of a gaseous phase in a liquid or solid foodstuff.
2 additives use this function.
Carbonating agent
A food additive used to provide carbonation in a food.
1 additive uses this function.