Reactions to food additives.

This article discusses reactions to food additives. The purpose of a food additive is to make a food look, taste or smell better and to improve its texture or keeping qualities. Labels must indicate the presence of colouring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, stabilizers, sweeteners and a number of other agents. Code numbers have therefore been issued with the prefix 'E' if the substance has been approved by the European Community. Many of the accusations concerning the potential adverse effects of food additives have concerned the flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate, but the chest pain which has been described is probably due to the oesophageal effect of a high concentration of an irritant substance, since a similar symptom has also been attributed to spiced tomato.