food additive
7
3.2
- noun
- /fuːd ˈædɪtɪv/
- Specialized
- Some consumers are concerned about the health effects of certain food additives in processed foods.
- food additives and preservatives
- antibiotics used as food additives
- commonly used as food additives
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Watch on YouTubeBut the biggest bulk of them comes from food additives.
- But the biggest bulk of them comes from food additives.
Examples
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According to the CDC (2002), food additives such as sorbitol and fructose can also cause acute diarrhea.
Academic text (2004) -
Many food manufacturers use food additives to enhance the flavor of their products.
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Although effective, these chemicals do not satisfy the necessary requirements as approved food additives.
Academic text (1993) -
Food additives are commonly used to extend the shelf life of meat products.
Academic text (2005) -
And a Los Angeles group has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration... to outlaw all food additives.
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New food additives, which are somewhat controversial, allow trout to be colored so that their flesh looks like salmon.
Academic text (1990) -
Thus, for this category of food additives, the law shifts the burden of proof to the petitioning firm(s).
Academic text (1996) -
In all, their tantalizing, all-natural new foods and innovative food additives are intended to help us prevent unwanted weight gain yet still enjoy what we eat.
Academic text (2006) -
Some of these studies have focused on the question of how the subtherapeutic use of a particular antibiotic as a food additive for livestock affects drug resistance in bacteria in the animals and in those who come into contact with those animals.
Academic text (2000) -
In that case, the agency banned acrylonitrile on the grounds that it counts as a "food additive" because acrylonitrile migrates in small amounts from bottles into the drinks they contain.
Academic text (2001)
Synonyms
31
3.7
A small ingredient added to food or fuel that helps it last longer
28
2.0
A substance added to food or drink to make it taste sweeter
23
3.7
A substance added to food or wood to stop decay
12
1.4
A liquid or powder that people add to food to give it color
10
1.1
A thing added to food or drink to give it a certain taste
1
2.3
A thing added to food or drink to change how it looks
1
2.6
Something added to food or drink to make it sweeter
1
6.0
An ingredient added to food to stop it going bad
1
3.6
An ingredient like salt or pepper that makes food taste better
An ingredient added to food or drink to give it a particular taste
How Effective
23
3.7
- Specialized
32
3.9
- Specialized
7
3.2
- US
10
1.1
- US
3
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'food' (what is eaten) + 'additive' (a substance added to improve or preserve), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a substance added to food. This is a productive noun‑noun compound pattern found across languages (e.g., aditivo alimentario, additif alimentaire), making it readily comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Food additive comes from the simple idea of something added to food. A small additive, like salt, sugar, or a preservative, is put in to make food taste better, look brighter, or stay fresh, so the term means 'a substance added to improve flavor, appearance, or shelf-life'.