Consumer Awareness About Food Additives

Abstract

Food additives are an essential component of our food supply; the current range and caliber of meals could not be sustained without them. Strict regulations that are supported by research proving food additives are safe for human health apply to their usage. Numerous advantages result from its use, such as improved safety and a wider selection of food items. For many families, processed and packaged meals are their daily sustenance. They are portable, convenient, and last a long time. Additives to food do not constitute a natural diet for people or their animals. These chemicals may cause adverse effects such as food allergies, larger waistlines, poor absorption of minerals and vitamins, cancer, and other health problems. Food additives, such as colors and sweeteners, play an essential role in food supply. Some customers may be suspicious of the use of food additives, particularly artificial ones, for a variety of reasons; food additives are regarded unnatural, harmful, or even a public health danger. Food additives can induce asthma, hay fever, and other symptoms such as rashes, vomiting, headache, tight chest, hives, and eczema worsening. Because many customers are ignorant about the purpose, significance, and benefits of these chemicals, they view them unfavorably. According to studies, participants’ mistrust of government-approved food additives stemmed from a lack of information and misunderstanding about food additives, as well as a lack of clarity in risk communications among stakeholders such as the government, industry, and consumers. People with lower levels of education were more likely than those with higher levels of education to purchase food containing additives that met government standards. This suggests that consumers who have less education are more inclined to believe that government agencies are in charge of regulating food additives. Consumer demand for fewer additives in food items has resulted in the elimination of artificial colors, tastes, and flavors in many food categories in order to attain clean label products.
Food quality, including safety, is a major concern facing the food industries today. This paper will be helpful in raising consumer awareness of the food additives in packaged food, studying consumer attitudes toward food and their knowledge of health issues arising from use of packaged food additives, and utilizing food label information when purchasing packaged food.