Why add food additives, enzymes and flavourings to food?

• Among others, food additives preserve, colour and stabilise food during its production, packaging or storage.
• Enzymes have specific biochemical actions which serve technological purposes at any stage of the food chain.
• Flavourings give or change the odour or taste to food.

Food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings are also called 'food improvement agents'.

EU rules on food additives, enzymes and flavourings

The common EU authorisation procedure for all food additives and food enzymes, called the "Food Improvement Agent Package" includes:

• Regulation EC 1331/2008 - EU authorisation for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.
• Regulation EC 1332/2008 - food enzymes
• Regulation EC 1333/2008 - food additives
• Regulation EC 1334/2008 - flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties

Certain flavourings also need authorisation before they can be used.