5 Things to Know About Food Additives in the Restaurant Industry

Over the next 4 years, the food additives industry is expected to reach $59 billion globally. 

Additives enhance the taste, texture, and colors of food to make them more enjoyable. 

If you are learning how to run a restaurant, you must also learn about menu creation and what goes into the food. 

Continue reading to learn more about food additives and how they play a role in the restaurant industry! 

1. Additives Are Everywhere

When it comes to the restaurant industry, it is important to understand that food additives are everywhere.

Food additives are used to lengthen the shelf life of products and ensure that they are a pleasing color. The FDA and US Department of Agriculture have approved many of these ingredients that are used in restaurants. Most of the time, when a business orders food from vendors, the additives are already included in the food. 

2. They Have a Purpose

Many food additives are generally recognized as safe to consume, especially in restaurants. 

One example of a food additive is xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is typically used in baked goods, salad dressings, and even chocolate milk. The purpose of this additive is to create a more pleasing texture for the person consuming the food or beverages. 

Another common purpose of food additives revolves around color. The FDA ensures that color additives are safe to consume and always get identified when looking at an ingredients list. The color of foods and drinks is important because it helps make food look more appealing to consumers and what they get used to seeing. 

3. Some Additives Come From Indirect Sources

Learning how to own a restaurant involves many factors, and most of your attention should lie within the food.

Since most restaurants aren’t farm-to-table, there is a good chance you will encounter indirect food additives. Indirect food additives are things that have become a part of the food through packaging or storage materials. 

Depending on the plastic and storage containers that you use, you might be dealing with more additives. Some of these can be unsafe to consume in large amounts. The FDA helps regulate what food can get packaged in to help prevent these issues. 

4. The FDA Plays a Role

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for controlling the use of food additives in the United States. 

When the FDA considers approving ingredients as safe additives, they look at several factors. The ingredient’s safety to consume will be a large component and how much the person typically consumes. They also look at the long-term health effects of ingesting these ingredients. 

5. Ingredients Are Constantly Evaluated

Working in the restaurant industry will quickly expose you to FDA regulations and changes.

As an owner, you must abide by these safety regulations and stay up to date on any changes that occur. As more studies and information come out about products, additives are added and removed from the safe list. If you are unsure about the safety of a food additive, contact someone from the FDA to get a clear answer. 

Understanding the Basics of Food Additives

Learning what food additives are is important if you want to work in the restaurant industry.

By utilizing this guide, you can discover the most common additives and create a safe restaurant menu. As a restaurant owner, you will work closely with the FDA to ensure that all ingredients are safe to consume. Since these ingredients are constantly under review, you must understand the purpose of each one. 

Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about what goes in food within the restaurant business! 

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