What is a food additive?

A food additive is defined as a substance that is intentionally added to food to achieve a specific purpose and becomes part of the food product. This definition encompasses a wide range of substances, including preservatives, colorings, flavor enhancers, and stabilizers. When added, these substances can influence the food's texture, taste, appearance, or shelf-life, playing a crucial role in food processing and safety.

The scope of food additives is broad. For instance, preservatives help prevent spoilage and extend shelf life, while emulsifiers keep ingredients from separating. Regardless of the specific type of additive, they all share the characteristic of being integrated into the final product and serving a functional role.

The other choices, while relevant to aspects of food technology and safety, do not fully encapsulate the definition of a food additive. Some may focus too narrowly on specific functions or misuse terms like "camouflage food spoilage," which suggests intent to deceive rather than improve food safety or quality.