25 Pros and Cons of Using Additives in Food (Explained)

The use of food additives has become extremely common in the present times. Most of the consumers are seen to rely upon the usage of additives so as to improvise the taste, texture as well as the appearance of the food.

Such additives can also enhance the flavor of the food products to a great extent. The nutritional value of such food additives should be considered before using such products which can create an impact upon a food item in a positive or in a negative manner.

Benefits of Using Additives in FoodDrawbacks of Using Additives in Food
Helps to increase the product shelf-lifeCan result in health complications
Enhances the nutritional valueLeads to destruction of vitamins
Improvises the flavor and textureResults in obesity and diabetes
Helps in mass productionActs as a replacement of real ingredients

Advantages of Using Additives in Food:

  • Helps to increase the product shelf-life:

One of the biggest advantages of using the wide range of additives in food products is the fact that they have been extremely beneficial in increasing the shelf-life of such products to a great extent.

This is entirely because of the reason that such food additives especially take up the role of food preservatives which can determine the extension of the shelf-life of such products. By taking up the role of food preservatives, such additives ensure to combat bacterial as well as virus growth which can ultimately help in extending the shelf-life of the food products.

They also help in maintaining the quality of such food items for a long period of time.

  • Enhances the nutritional value:

The concept of food additives has become extremely trending during the ongoing 21st century. It has contributed significantly in enhancing the nutritional value of various food products.

This is definitely one of the major reasons behind the popularity of such food additives which are used almost in every food item in the present times. The addition of the additives to all kinds of processed food has acted as a beneficial aspect because they have served the role of maintaining the nutritional value of a wide range of food items.

The maintenance of the right amount of nutritional value has contributed in helping to maintain a proper balanced diet at the same time.

  • Improvises the flavor and texture

The various types of processing tasks have been seen to create an alteration in the flavor of the food products to a great extent.

It is exactly because of this reason that the use of additives have become extremely popular in the recent times. The food additives have therefore helped in enhancing the flavor as well as the taste of a particular product in a significant manner. The use of certain additives have also helped in improving the texture as well as the appearance of certain food products.

Therefore, such enhancements have contributed in maintaining the consistency of the food products to a great extent.

  • Helps in mass production:

Another significant reason due to which the use of food additives has become extremely common nowadays is the fact that it has helped in mass production. Additives are therefore used on the wide range of food products during the process of production.

Thus, the suppliers do not have to think much about the food items getting spoiled and therefore resulting in food poisoning. This has ultimately helped in increasing the rate of production to a great extent.

Disadvantages of Using Additives in Food:

  • Can result in health complications:

One of the major limitations of using additives in the food items is the fact that it has led to many such cases of health complications in the recent times. This has occurred due to the fact that most of the food additives are made of extremely hazardous components which can cause serious health issues.

The BHA preservatives are one such popularly used food additive in various manufacturing companies. It has led to various health complications starting from nausea, diarrhea, breathing difficulties along with various other such issues.

The use of excessive amount of salt in the food items can result in increased cases of heart attack.

  • Leads to destruction of vitamins:

The use of food additives have often been considered as an essential drawback because not only does it lead to various health issues, but also result in the destruction of various crucial vitamins. The vitamin deficiency can be another important reason behind such frequent health disorders that the consumers are seen to suffer from.

Although the food additives have contributed significantly in enhancing the appearance as well as the nutritional value of a food item, it has destroyed many such essential vitamins. This has taken place due to the fact that the additives are known to replace the actual ingredients and therefore destroy the authentic nutritional value of a food product.

  • Results in obesity and diabetes:

The food additives are also considered to be extremely harmful as their consumption has resulted in an increase in the number of cases pertaining to obesity and diabetes. As a matter of fact, the occurrence of such diseases is mainly considered due to the excessive consumption of the artificially treated food products.

The corn-syrup kind of additive are used extensively in various processed food items. This therefore results in increasing the chances of consumers suffering from obesity as well as diabetes.

  • Acts as a replacement of real ingredients:

One of the major reasons due to which the use of additives are considered to be extremely harmful for the food products is the fact that they are known to replace the actual food ingredients. This is mainly done by the manufacturers themselves who resort to such unfair means of replacing the real food ingredients with the additives in a particular food item.

This is done so as to make them visually much more appealing. It is because of such replacements that the health factor of the consumers can be severely affected in the future.

Conclusion:

The use of food additives is something that almost everyone is well accustomed with in the ongoing 21st century. Almost every other food item is known to have undergone this artificial treatment. This is done so as to make the products much more appealing to the human eye. However, the food additives have their own set of limitations which can affect human health if used in an excessive amount.

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