Why Choose Us?
Rich Experience
KINTAI Biotech Inc. is one of the major manufacturers of herbal extracts and pharmaceutical intermediate in China, and has been serving global health industry customers in the past 10 years.
Wide Range of Applications
Our health natural products have been sold well in more than thirty countries, including Europe, North America, Australia, Southeast Asia, Russia, etc., and are widely used in medicine, health food, cosmetics, food drinks, animal feed and other fields.
Professional Technical Team
KINTAI is established by a high qualified team, owns the 12,000㎡ GMP workshop, 600㎡ R&D platform, 23 well-trained factory workers, 7 professional R&D and quality control people. We are experts in R&D, manufacturing and quality assurance.
Wide Product Range
KINTAI's leading products are Lappaconitine Bbr, Mangiferin, Dihydromyricetin, Dihydroquercetin, Polydatin, Rosmarinic acid, Chlorogenic acid, betulin, sanguinarine, Macleaya cordata extract, Centella asiatica extract and epimedium extract, etc.
What is Food Additives?
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance taste, appearance, or other sensory qualities. Some additives have been used for centuries as part of an effort to preserve food, for example vinegar (pickling), salt (salting), smoke (smoking), sugar (crystallization), etc. This allows for longer-lasting foods such as bacon, sweets or wines. With the advent of ultra-processed foods in the second half of the twentieth century, many additives have been introduced, of both natural and artificial origin. Food additives also include substances that may be introduced to food indirectly (called "indirect additives") in the manufacturing process, through packaging, or during storage or transport.
Advantages of Food Additives
Makes food last longer
One of the main benefits of food additives and preservatives is that they extend the shelf life of foods. This benefits the manufacturers, stockists, stores and consumers, so it's no wonder that they are in so many foods! So how do food additives help foods last longer? The addition of preservatives in foods causes a chemical reaction which slows the growth of harmful bacteria, preventing processes such as oxidation which is what makes food 'go off'. Making food last longer also means that there is less food waste, reducing the effects of landfill on the environment! If you're conscious about the environment, why not invest in one of these reusable running bottles for your next workout?
Improve taste
They are particularly used in long-life and processed foods, as processes such as canning and freezing can take away food's natural flavours. By adding food additives, their flavour can be enhanced.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most commonly used flavour-enhancing food additives. It is popular in Asian cooking as well as canned vegetables, soups and processed meats, since it enhances the savory umami flavour foods. Although the FDA has said that it is technically safe, the safety of MSG is under question. Some people are particularly sensitive to MSG, reporting side-effects such as headaches, nausea, chest pain and heart palpitations. However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence behind these claims, and they are generally short-term reactions.
Improve texture
In addition to improving flavour, another advantage of using food additives is that it can enhance the texture of food. As we have discussed, emulsifiers, stabilisers, gelling agents and thickeners are used to improve the texture of things such as ice creams, sauces, and condiments. Enhancing the texture of foods is a huge benefit to manufacturers and sellers of food, as it ultimately makes the product look more appetizing for customers to buy.
Can add nutritional value to food
Food additives are often associated with negative health effects. But in fact, one of the health benefits of food additives is that they can add nutritional value to foods. For example, fortified and enriched foods use additives to add positive health effects to foods, such as more fiber or vitamins. For example, many vegan products such as plant-based milks contain added B vitamins, which are usually lacking in a vegan diet.
Can aid weight loss
Another potential health benefit of food additives is that they can provide a low-calorie alternative to other ingredients, thus aiding weight loss. The main example of this is the use of sweeteners such as stevia, which is often found in diet fizzy drinks and confectionery. Stevia is lower in calories than sugar, making it popular with people looking to lose weight or reduce their sugar intake. Despite their weight loss properties, many people report negative side effects of certain sweeteners, particularly aspartame. Aspartame has often been associated with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and stomach pains.
Make food look better
One of the main advantages of using food additives for manufacturers and sellers is that they can enhance the appearance of foods, making them more appealing and appetizing to consumers. Food colours or food dyes are additives that are chemically designed to add colour to foods. They can be either natural or artificial, with artificial dyes being predominantly made from petroleum. Sight is just as important as taste when it comes to how we eat and enjoy food; we expect certain foods to look a particular way.
Types of Food Additives
PH Control Agents
Ingredients that either maintain or control the acidity or alkalinity of foods are known as pH control agents. These may be added to alter the texture, taste or safety of a food. Citric acid, acetic acid and sodium citrate are widely used agents and often are found in gelatins, jams, ice cream and candies. Lactic acid is an acidity regulator used in cheese-making, and adipic acid can be found in bottled fruit-flavored drinks.
Leavening Agents
Leavening agents are incorporated into doughs and batters to increase the volume, shape and texture of baked goods. Common leavening agents include baking powder, beer, buttermilk, yeast, whey protein concentrate and yogurt. Used in a wide variety of sweet and savory products, these leavening agents can be found in cakes, cookies, breads, biscuits, scones, muffins and soda bread.
Anti-caking Agents
Anti-caking agents are added to powdered or granulated ingredients — such as powdered milks, egg mixes, sugar products, flours and baking mixes — to prevent lumping, caking or sticking. There are many agents to choose from, including calcium phosphates, silicon dioxide, silicates (calcium, aluminum and tricalcium) and stearic acid.
Humectants
Humectants keep foods moist. Common examples include glycerin, honey, sugar polyols (glycerol, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol) and propylene glycol, and often are found in candy, shredded coconut and marshmallows. It’s important to note that polyols also are used in foods as a low-calorie sweetening option, particularly for sugar-free chewing gums, candies and other low-calorie foods.
Stabilizers, Thickeners and Gelling Agents
These are widely used across many food product categories to improve stability and create a uniform texture by preventing emulsions from separating, ice crystals from forming and ingredients from settling. The starch-based category of thickeners includes arrowroot, corn, potato and tapioca. Vegetable gums include guar and locust bean gum. Common protein-based thickeners include collagen, egg whites and gelatin. Alginic acid, alginates (sodium, potassium, calcium), agar-agar and carrageenan are polysaccharides derived from algae and seaweeds; whereas, pectin is a polysaccharide originating from apple and citrus fruits, and xanthan gum is obtained by fermenting a specific strain of bacteria.
Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers are added to oil and water-based mixtures to help keep them blended together. Examples of emulsions in everyday foods include vinaigrette dressings, milk and mayonnaise. Lecithin from egg yolk and soybean are commonly used emulsifiers in the food supply. Others include diacetyl tartaric acid ester of monoglycerides (DATEM) and sodium stearyl lactylate. These often are used in commercial bread doughs, artificial whipped creams and dried, liquid or frozen egg whites.
Application of Food Additives
Coloring (Color Protection) Agents and Coloring (Color Protection) Additives
Colorants themselves are generally colorless substances, but combined with food materials, can fix the pigment in the food, to promote food coloring. Meat products commonly used coloring agent is nitrate and nitrite, nitrate in the meat under the action of denitrifying bacteria (or reducing substances), reduced to nitrite; nitrite and lactic acid in meat to produce nitrite reaction; nitrite is very unstable easily decomposed to produce nitrogen oxide and nitric acid, nitrogen oxide and muscle myoglobin combined to produce bright red nitroso-myoglobin, so that the meat has a bright Rose red.
Moisture Retention Agent
Water retention is one of the important indicators of meat products. Phosphate is a water retention agent, which plays an important role in the improvement of water retention, gel strength and yield of meat products. Adding phosphate in the processing of meat products can improve the pH of meat; chelate metal ions in meat; increase the ionic strength of meat; dissociate actinoglobulin.
Preservatives
Meat products are rich in nutrients, high protein and moisture content, and are highly susceptible to microbial spoilage during processing or storage, therefore, it is necessary to use preservatives in meat products. Preservatives can inhibit microbial activity and prevent food spoilage, thereby extending the shelf life of food. The preservatives commonly used in meat products are sorbic acid and its potassium salt, sodium diacetate, sodium dehydroacetate, streptococcus lactate, etc. Sorbic acid and its salts are one of the main preservatives of food.
Thickener
To process meat into meat products, in addition to ensuring a certain color, flavor and taste, the product should also have a certain shape, that is, the texture of the structure. Therefore, the use of some additives with emulsification, water retention, oil retention, inhibit or delay aging, improve the yield and other functions is necessary. Thickener is a class of additives to improve and stabilize the physical properties or tissue state of meat products.
Colorants
In order to make meat products to achieve a good meat red color, it is necessary to add some coloring agents in meat products in limited quantities. Commonly used coloring agents are red currant red, red currant rice, chili red, carmine red, temptation red, erythrosine, sorghum red, etc., especially red currant pigment is the most common, red currant pigment is red currant mold in rice, soybean raw materials after solid fermentation or deep fermentation to get the natural pigment, is a pure natural fermentation products, high safety, chemical stability.
Antioxidants
During the storage or transportation of meat products, souring and discoloration can occur under the influence of light, temperature or storage conditions, which is mainly caused by the oxidation of fat and myoglobin, and these different degrees of oxidation can cause different degrees of damage to the nutrition and quality of the product. Therefore, in order to overcome this oxidation, it is necessary to add a certain amount of antioxidants.
Safety Considerations for Food Additives
Regulatory Oversight
The safety of food additives is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). These agencies are responsible for approving new additives and establishing safe levels of use.
Safety Testing
Before a food additive is approved for use, it must undergo rigorous safety testing to determine its potential risks and benefits. This testing involves evaluating the additive's toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and other potential health risks.
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
The ADI is the amount of a food additive that can be safely consumed on a daily basis over a lifetime without causing harm. The FDA and EFSA establish the ADI based on safety testing data. The ADI is typically expressed in milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
Potential Risks for Sensitive Populations
Some people may be more sensitive to certain food additives than others. This includes individuals with allergies or intolerances to specific additives. Additionally, pregnant women and young children may be more vulnerable to the effects of certain additives, which can impact fetal development or have long-term health consequences.
Adverse Reactions
While most people can safely consume food additives, some individuals may experience adverse reactions. These reactions can include allergic reactions, migraines, and gastrointestinal distress. Consumers need to be aware of the additives used in their foods and monitor their reactions to these additives.
Labeling Requirements
Food manufacturers are required to list all additives used in their products on the product label. This allows consumers to make informed choices about the foods they eat and avoid any additives they may be allergic to or have adverse reactions to.
Interactions with Other Additives
Some food additives can interact with other additives or substances in food, potentially leading to harmful effects. For example, the combination of certain food dyes and preservatives has been linked to hyperactivity in children.
Maximum Usage Levels
In addition to the ADI, the FDA also sets maximum usage levels for each food additive. These levels specify the maximum amount of a food additive that can be used in a food product without exceeding the ADI.
Labeling
Food manufacturers are required to list all food additives on the ingredient label of a food product. This allows consumers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase and consume.
Consumers must read the labels. Under the current regulations, any foods which contain food additives must bear on the label a statement “contains permitted (type of the food additives). For example, “contains permitted colouring substance”.
Some labels provide additional information on the specific type of food additives which are added to the foods. For example, “contains permitted colouring substance (Ponceau 4R)”.
There are also labels which include additional information whereby the internationally-recognised reference number is indicated. For example, “contains emulsifier (sodium pyrophosphate (E450) as permitted food conditioner”.
Increasing Demand for Natural and Clean-Label Ingredients
The food industry has a growing trend towards natural and clean-label ingredients. Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and are seeking products that are free from artificial ingredients and additives. As a result, many food manufacturers are turning to natural alternatives to traditional food additives, such as herbs, spices, and natural extracts. This trend is expected to continue in the future, with more emphasis on clean-label ingredients and transparency in food labeling. Advancements in Technology: Advancements in technology are also shaping the future of food additives. New technologies are being developed that allow natural flavors and colors to be produced without artificial additives.
Increased Regulations
There is increasing pressure from consumers and regulators to ensure the safety and transparency of food additives. This has led to more stringent regulations and testing requirements for food additives in many countries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently proposed new rules to improve food additives' safety and increase transparency in the approval process. Similarly, the European Union has implemented a new food labeling regulation that requires all food additives to be listed on the label with their specific name and function.
Focus on Sustainability
Sustainability is becoming a key concern in the food industry, and this is also influencing the future of food additives. There is a growing interest in sustainable food production and reducing the environmental impact of food manufacturing. This has led to the development of new food additives that are biodegradable and eco-friendly. For example, some companies are using seaweed extracts as a natural alternative to synthetic thickeners.
Personalization and Customization
Advancements in technology are also making it possible to personalize and customize food products to individual preferences and needs. This includes the use of food additives to create personalized textures, flavors, and nutritional profiles. For example, some companies use enzymes to create gluten-free bread with a texture and flavor similar to traditional bread.
Misconceptions on Food Additives
Some people believe that food additives are chemicals. Therefore, they assume that usage of food additives should be banned. In the context of food science, the word ‘chemicals’ is actually quite insignificant since air, water, sugar and salt are also chemicals.
It is important to note that most food additives can be obtained from the nature, such as:
● Pectin which are used to thicken jams are obtained from plants.
● Lecithin used as emulsifier are obtained from egg yolk.
● Other examples of naturally-obtained food additives are caramel used as food colouring, Vitamin C as antioxidant and jelly obtained from seaweed used as food stabiliser.
Misconceptions on food additives have made consumers become more focus on avoiding food additives rather than being serious in taking a well-balanced diet.
Our Certifications
Now Kintai Biotech Inc has obtained GMP, ISO9001:2016, ISO22000:2018, Kosher, HACCP, HALAL, Food Production License, Business License, and other qualifications certificates.
Our Factory
KINTAI Biotech Inc. is one of the major manufacturers of herbal extracts and pharmaceutical intermediate in China, and has been serving global health industry customers in the past 10 years. KINTAI offers more than just manufacturing services, we offer our customers complete professional solutions, including product concept, selling points, testing, formulation, packaging, customs clearance, regulatory compliance, etc. KINTAI is established by a high qualified team, owns the 12,000㎡ GMP workshop, 600㎡ R&D platform, 23 well-trained factory workers, 7 professional R&D and quality control people. We are experts in R&D, manufacturing and quality assurance.
Ultimate FAQ Guide to Food Additives
Xi'an Kintai Biotech Inc is one of the leading food additives manufacturers and suppliers in China. We warmly welcome you to buy or wholesale food additives for sale here from our factory. Our products are with high quality and competitive price.
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