What are they? Additives include anything that is added to food, to flavour, colour or preserve it. Natural additives have been used in food preparation for centuries. Nowadays, many additives such as colourings and flavourings are chemically manufactured. All additives must be safe, effective and necessary before they are used in food. Many approved additives are given an E number. You can find these listed on a food label. In the United Kingdom, almost 4,000 substances can be legally added to food. Most of these are flavourings.
	Where are they used? Additives are found in many foods - bread, meat, dried, tinned or processed products, soft drinks, sweets, jams, and frozen desserts, all contain additives.
	What are the different types of additives? There are four main groups of food additives, each serving a different purpose. Preservatives These protect food to stop it going stale or 'off'. They are found in meat and fish products, dried foods such as fruit, fruit juices and jams, soft drinks and bread. Colourings These make food look more appealing and are used in many processed foods. They are also found in sweets, soft drinks, jams and margarines. Flavourings or flavour enhancers These improve or add to the flavour of food. They are used in tinned or processed foods. Emulsifiers, stabilisers and thickeners These help to improve the texture and consistency of food. They make food taste smoother or creamier and give it more bulk. They are found in soups, breads or cakes, margarines and some frozen desserts.
	Are additives helpful or harmful? Helpful They prevent food from spoiling or going bad too quickly. They prolong the shelf-life of foods so that they can be stored for longer. In order that you know how long the food has been stored, all foods have a sell-by-date shown on the packet or tin. They should be sold and used by this date otherwise the additives they contain may not protect them from going bad. They help to make some foods look and taste better. Harmful They may be used to disguise food that isn't as good as it should be. They can cause allergic reactions in some people. Colourings, in particular are thought to cause hyperactivity or asthmatic symptoms especially in children and young people. See 'Coping with an Allergy' for advice about what to do if you have an allergic reaction to food.
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