Lesson 4 Learning Objectives

1. To understand food additives
2. To understand food additive categories 
3. To understand what food additives are

When scanning a food label, the goal is to look for whole foods you recognise while staying alert for chemical additives that indicate higher levels of processing. Over the past few decades, the number of additives used in packaged foods has grown significantly—primarily to extend shelf life, alter appearance, or enhance texture. Food manufacturers are required by law to state these additives in the ingredients list, either by their official E number code or by their actual chemical name. As consumer awareness around E numbers has grown, many companies now prefer listing the chemical name to make the ingredient list appear less industrial.

While industry groups maintain that approved additives are safe in small quantities, health warnings tell a more nuanced story. Certain preservatives and colourings used in food products actually require safety warnings when included in human medicines, where they are flagged for potential allergic reactions, skin and mucous membrane irritation, and behavioural issues in children. Yet, in food production, these same additives carry no mandatory health warnings. Because cumulative exposure matters—often summarised by the principle "the devil is in the dose"—minimising products heavy in non-essential additives is a central step toward a healthier diet.