Can someone please write a simple list of pros and cons of food additives? Things like "they can cause allergic reactions." Thanks :P
The main thing about them is the way we need them in the foods to preserve them and that has to offset the good and the bad. There are several pages here that can answer you far better than I can and too big to copy and paste @ www.understandingfoodadditives.or...
Pros: Grown without pesticides, synthetic chemicals, preservatives, non-irradiated, non-genetically modified, better nutrition for the person ingesting them, less toxicity for the person ingesting them, feeling of better well being is markedly noticeable Cons: Expensive, shorter shelf life ,limited availability, limited selection If you hear news reports telling you that there is no difference between the two, consider the source : It's just like most western medicine doctors telling people that vitamin supplements don't help people. Of course they are going to say that. Doctors want you to be sick so you'll buy their pimp's (pharmaceutical companies) drugs and spend money on doctor visits. Also pharmaceutical companies and most western medicine doctors don't make any money off of vitamin supplements or the fact that you are healthy.. Something to think about, huh? Believe it... cause it's true. It's a sad state of affairs, but it's definitely true
Different food additives have different purposes, but here are some basic pros and cons: Pros: -slow oil rancidity -enhance flavour (Citric acid is an example of a food additive that enhances flavour) -create a more visually appealing food -increase vitamin content (e.g. tocopherol is a food additive that is actually a form of vitamin E. It is added to oils to increase their vitamin E content) -extend shelf life (TBHQ is a food additive that extends shelf life) -reduce nutrient loss over time -make dough more workable (Protease is a food additive that does this) Cons: -may be toxic -can harm people when taken in large amounts -Caramel colouring is a food additive that is marked as unsafe by the CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) Overall, food additives serve useful purposes. Some, however should be avoided or consumed in only small amounts because of their possible negative side effects.
