This brief addresses important aspects of food additives. Through four
chapters, the authors describe the chemistry of food additives, the
regulatory classification of additives on a large-scale, the risks
involved in using chemicals for food preparation - including
implications this has on food hygiene, and case-study examples taken
from the dairy industry. More specifically, chapter one provides a list
of the technological purposes of food additives defined for European
use; chapter two explains the 'General Standards for Food Additives'
(Codex Alimentarius Commission) which is a harmonised, workable and
indisputable international standard; chapter three describes the use of
selected food additives in the dairy sector, particularly with relation
to the production of yoghurt products; and chapter four addresses the
impact of additives on human health. This brief is of interest to
researchers working in the area of food production and international
regulation, both in academia and industry.