Functional classes
Acidity regulator
A food additive, which controls the acidity or alkalinity of a food.
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acidity regulator
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acid
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acidifier
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alkali
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base
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buffer
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buffering agent
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pH adjusting agent
Antifoaming agent
A food additive, which prevents or reduces foaming.
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antifoaming agent
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defoaming agent
Anticaking agent
Reduces the tendency of particles of food to adhere to one another.
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anticaking agent
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anti-stick agent
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drying agent
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dusting agent
Antioxidant
A food additive, which prolongs the shelf-life of foods by protecting against deterioration caused by oxidation.
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antioxidant
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antioxidant synergist
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antibrowning agent
Bleaching agent
A food additive (non-flour use) used to decolourize food. Bleaching agents do not include pigments.
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bleaching agent
Bulking agent
A food additive, which contributes to the bulk of a food without contributing significantly to its available energy value.
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bulking agent
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filler
Carbonating agent
A food additive used to provide carbonation in a food.
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carbonating agent
Carrier
A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function (and without exerting any technological effect itself) in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
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carrier solvent
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carrier
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nutrient carrier
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diluent for other food additives
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encapsulating agent
Colour
A food additive, which adds or restores colour in a food.
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decorative pigment
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surface colorant
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colour
Colour retention agent
A food additive, which stabilizes, retains or intensifies the colour of a food.
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colour fixative
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colour retention agent
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colour stabilizer
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color adjunct
Emulsifier
A food additive, which forms or maintains a uniform emulsion of two or more phases in a food.
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emulsifier
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plasticizer
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surface active agent
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dispersing agent
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crystallization inhibitor
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density adjustment agent (flavouring oils in beverages)
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clouding agent
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suspension agent
Emulsifying salt
A food additive, which, in the manufacture of processed food, rearranges proteins in order to prevent fat separation.
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emulsifying salt
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melding salt
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emulsifying salt synergist
Firming agent
A food additive, which makes or keeps tissues of fruit or vegetables firm and crisp, or interacts with gelling agents to produce or strengthen a gel.
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firming agent
Flavour enhancer
A food additive, which enhances the existing taste and/or odour of a food.
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flavour enhancer
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flavour synergist
Flour treatment agent
A food additive, which is added to flour or dough to improve its baking quality or colour.
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flour treatment agent
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flour bleaching agent
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flour improver
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dough conditioner
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dough strengthening agent
Foaming agent
A food additive, which makes it possible to form or maintain a uniform dispersion of a gaseous phase in a liquid or solid food.
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whipping agent
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foaming agent
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aerating agent
Gelling agent
A food additive, which gives a food texture through formation of a gel.
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gelling agent
Glazing agent
A food additive, which when applied to the external surface of a food, imparts a shiny appearance or provides a protective coating.
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glazing agent
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sealing agent
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coating agent
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surface-finishing agent
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polishing agent
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film forming agent
Humectant
A food additive, which prevents food from drying out by counteracting the effect of a dry atmosphere.
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humectant
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moisture/water retention agent
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wetting agent
Packaging gas
A food additive gas, which is introduced into a container before, during or after filling with food with the intention to protect the food, for example, from oxidation or spoilage.
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packaging gas
Preservative
A food additive, which prolongs the shelf-life of a food by protecting against deterioration caused by microorganisms.
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preservative
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antimicrobial preservative
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antimycotic agent
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bacteriophage control agent
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fungistatic agent
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antimicrobial synergist
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antimould and antirope agent
Propellant
A food additive gas, which expels a food from a container.
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propellant
Raising agent
A food additive or a combination of food additives, which liberate(s) gas and thereby increase(s) the volume of a dough or batter.
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raising agent
Sequestrant
A food additive, which controls the availability of a cation.
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sequestrant
Stabilizer
A food additive, which makes it possible to maintain a uniform dispersion of two or more components.
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stabilizer
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foam stabilizer
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colloidal stabilizer
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emulsion stabilizer
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stabilizer synergist
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binder
Sweetener
A food additive (other than a mono- or disaccharide sugar), which imparts a sweet taste to a food.
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intense sweetener
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sweetener
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bulk sweetener
Thickener
A food additive, which increases the viscosity of a food.
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thickener
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bodying agent
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binder
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texturizing agent
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thickener synergist