What food additive is that? New consumer guide launched

A new pocket guide to help consumers easily identify food additives while they shop was launched in Canberra today by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Aged Care, Senator the Hon. Grant Tambling.

'Many people want to know what additives are in their food but they’re unsure what the code numbers on food labels mean,' Senator Tambling said.

'The Food Additives Shoppers’ Guide from the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) will help people quickly ‘decode’ these numbers which are found in the ingredient lists on food packaging.

'This handy pocket-sized guide is essential for anyone who wants to know more about food additives.'

The guide lists food additives by their scientific names and short code numbers. By law, food manufacturers can list either the food additive’s code number or name or include both.

'Using the Food Additives Shoppers’ Guide you can see, for example, that code number 508 is potassium chloride—a mineral salt used to preserve foods,' Senator Tambling said.

'The guide also explains what food additives are and why they are so important in our modern food supply.

'Additives ensure that our food is preserved correctly, tastes the way we want it to, and keep our food fresh.'

Food additive is the description covering ingredients deliberately added to food for a technical purpose such as colourings, preservatives, artificial sweetners, flavourings, and thickeners.

'Additives have a long history of safe use in our food supply,' Senator Tambling said.' 'In fact, some substances used as additives are naturally occurring such as citric acid in oranges.'

The safety of food additives is regulated by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority. New additives are approved for use only after extensive toxicological and dietary assessments have been carried out demonstrating that they are safe for use in food.

'While food additives are safe, a small proportion of the population may experience an adverse reaction to foods containing additives,' Senator Tambling said.

'For instance, there are some people who are sensitive to sulphites, a preservative commonly found in foods such as processed meats, dried fruits, and wine,' Senator Tambling said. 'For these people, eating foods with sulphites may trigger asthma.'

Sulphite additives are listed in the guide under numbers 220-225 and 228.

'It is important to know that more people are intolerant to common foods such as peanuts, milk or eggs than to food additives,' Senator Tambling said.

The Food Additives Shoppers’ Guide is available free of charge from ANZFA’s website www.foodstandards.gov.au or www.foodstandards.govt.nz . It can also be purchased from major booksellers for $3.95.