What are antioxidant additives? Discover what they are, what they consist of and their purpose, their toxicity and in what foods or drinks we find them.
It is enough to take a look at food labels to realize the amount of food additives that we can find in food, and food products and beverages that we consume with some regularity. Thus, for example, we can find acidulant, colorants, emulsifiers, stabilizers, preservatives and antioxidants.
As their name indicates, additives are substances or compounds that are added to food and certain beverages with the aim of improving their taste, aroma and appearance, or to avoid their natural rotting and thereby extend the shelf life. Expiration.
What are antioxidant additives?
The antioxidant additives have a very similar action to that exerted by the preservatives additives, as are additives that prevent rot tank of air oxygen.
This translates into a function that is actually very simple: they have a stabilizing action on the internal composition of food, fighting the signs of oxidative rot, determined by oxygen.
With all this, without antioxidants, food would lose its vitamin A and C content. On the other hand, fats rancid and in turn – due to the action of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme – color alterations would occur, especially both in vegetables and in the fruits.
What are the health effects of antioxidant additives?
The truth is that, for the most part, the antioxidant additives currently allowed in the food industry are certainly identical to natural substances, and it is not possible to expect any type of negative effect on health from their use.
Of course, certain antioxidants are not chemically related to the natural components of food, so that they can have a harmful action, being responsible for the appearance of different allergic reactions.
In what foods can we find antioxidant additives?
- Soups and broths.
- Roast and spice sauces.
- Dried potato products.
- Cereal-based snacks.
- Marzipan dough, and similar products.
- Peanut dough and derived products.
- Chewing gum.
- Certain aromas.
