The starting point for determining whether a food additive can be used without harmful effects is establishing the acceptable daily dose. The recommended daily intake is an estimate of the amount of additive in food or drinking water that can be safely consumed daily over a lifetime without adverse health effects.
The Role of Suppliers
Types of Food Preservatives
Food additives may be derived from plants, animals or minerals or may be synthetic. They are intentionally added to food to fulfil certain technological purposes. There are several thousand food additives in use, all of which are designed to perform a specific task, usually to make food more durable or appealing.