Food ingredients

A food ingredient is any substance that is added to a food to achieve a desired effect.

Under EU regulation, they are described as food improvement agents.

They include for example food flavourings, smoke flavourings, food additives (such as food colours and sweeteners) and food enzymes.

In general terms:

• Food additives are used to preserve, colour and stabilise food and drinks during their production, packaging or storage.
• Enzymes have specific biochemical actions which serve technological purposes at any stage of the food chain.
• Flavourings give food and drinks a different or stronger taste and/or smell.