For centuries, ingredients have served useful functions in a variety of foods. Today, consumers demand a food supply that is flavorful, nutritious, safe, convenient, colorful, and affordable. Food additives and advances in technology help make that possible. There are thousands of ingredients used to make foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a list of over 3,000 ingredients in its data base. Still, some consumers have concerns about additives. They often see the long, unfamiliar names and think of them as complex chemical compounds. In fact, every food we eat is made up of chemical compounds that determine flavor, color, texture, and nutrient value. All food additives are carefully regulated by federal authorities to ensure that foods are safe to eat and are accurately labeled.
A food additive is any substance added to food. Legally, the term refers to "any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result—directly or indirectly—in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food." Direct food additives are those that are added to a food for a specific purpose in that food. Most direct additives are identified on the ingredient label. Indirect food additives are those that become part of the food in trace amounts due to its packaging, storage, or other handling. Food packaging manufacturers must prove to the FDA that all materials coming in contact with food are safe before they are permitted for use in such a manner.
A color additive is any dye, pigment, or substance that when added or applied to a food, drug, or cosmetic, or to the human body, is capable of imparting color. The FDA is responsible for regulating all color additives. The FDA ensures that foods containing color additives are safe, contain only approved ingredients, and are accurately labeled. Color additives are used in foods for many reasons. One reason is to offset color loss due to exposure to light, air, temperature extremes, moisture, and storage conditions. Another reason is to correct natural variations in color. They are also used to enhance naturally occurring colors and to provide color to colorless and "fun" foods.
Today, food and color additives are more strictly studied, regulated, and monitored than at any other time in history. FDA has the primary legal responsibility for determining their safe use. To market a new food or color additive, a manufacturer or other sponsor must first petition FDA for its approval. These petitions must provide evidence that the substance is safe for the ways in which it will be used.

Types of Food Ingredients

The following summary lists the types of common food ingredients, why they are used, and some examples of the names that can be found on product labels. Some additives are used for more than one purpose.

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Drag the tiles to the correct boxes to complete the pairs. Not all tiles will be used.
Match each statement from the passage with the message it represents.

People can trust that there
are no harmful side effects
from the ingredients in
their food.
The presence of chemicals
in additives should not
be a cause for concern.
People need to submit a
petition to the government
asking for more research
about additives they are
concerned about.
It is important to take the
time to learn the chemical
makeup of foods before
eating them.
Passage Statement
Author’s Message
Today, food and color
additives are more strictly
studied, regulated, and
monitored than at any
other time in history.
arrowBoth
In fact, every food we eat
is made up of chemical
compounds that determine
flavor, color, texture,
and nutrient value.
arrowBoth