Dr. Barnes Louthan
Eastman Chemical Company, Retired
Food Additives and the Lunacy of Labeling
There is significant need within the world to find ways to preserve, protect, and distribute foods. This need will increase as the world’s population increases. Additives provide protection against oxidation and bacteria-induced degradation, as well as performing other functions, but are in conflict with consumer demands. Unfortunately, consumer awareness of various additives is negatively tilted by inaccurate and/or incomplete information. Consequently, buying decisions and label declarations reflect fear rather than knowledge. In addition, many consumers believe that certain foods are unhealthy or contribute to undesirable weight gain only because of specific additives these foods contain. Actually, the overall quality and fitness for consumption of many food stuffs can be safely enhanced by the appropriate use of various additives and in concert with modern processing methods.
