The substances which are not naturally a part of the food and are added to improve the quality of food are called food additives. The substances enhance the nutritive, sensory, and practical value of the food. They also increase the shelf life of food.
Important categories of food additives:
- Aroma compounds
- Food colors
- Preservatives
- Stabilizers
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Antioxidants
- Buffering substances
- Vitamins and minerals