PHAR 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Amaranth (Dye), Food Coloring, Dizziness
12 Nov 2016
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Definition: substance added to food to improve appearance, texture and storage. *intentional vitamins and minerals; flavours, colours, preservatives, texture agents. *unintentional during processing; fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals, rodent hairs, microorganisms. Adulterants ie) melamine in china it was added to milk to increase amino acid content which defines mild quality. But this was toxic and a number of individuals died. Also in canada imported food made with dairy like pet food or chocolate has traced of melamine. Efficacy can easily be shown but toxicity is harder (especially because it is often chronic exposure; small amounts for a long period of time). There are also the differences in animal test subjects and human reactions. Additives are tested at the highest no effect level in animals and put on a 1000 fold safety factor. Testing is based on: purpose of additive, food it is being added to, concentration to be used, population expected to consume the products (ie. adult vs. child).
