Food Additives

In food processing and preservation certain chemical substances called food additives are used. These are meant to enhance the overall acceptability of the food in appearance and colour, flavour and texture, mouthfeel and in some cases the nutritive value. Preservatives contribute another class of additives whose main function is the extension of self life by preventing spoilage of food products due to their anti-microbial activities. Food additives have to keep pace with the fast growing food industry in India and elsewhere in the world. With many chemical additives being banned the need for natural alternatives is being felt. Some of these additives are produced at present by fermentation technology while others have possibility of production using biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques in future. These and related aspects of various food additives have been reviewed in twenty five chapters of this book.