Question

List out some chemical food adulterants,their permitted levels and their harmful effects when they exceed the permitted level?

Answer 1

Adulteration of food is the process of adding or removing any substance in order to alter its original composition.

Food Coloring: Maximum permitted level of food dyes is 100 parts per million (ppm or ug/g) except in canned food where the level is 200 ppm. The adverse effect of adding more than permissible level is allergic reactions, stomach problems, hyperactivity in children etc.

Aspartame (Artificial Sweeteners): Not more than 0.1% by weight. Excessive sweeteners cause hyperactivity in children, risk of obesity and heart diseases, tooth decay etc.

Artificial Flavoring: Refers to many lab chemicals which imitate natural flavor such as vanilla. Limit is around 1-2%. Latest studies show that such artificial additives can cause changes in behavior.