A substance added to food for a technological purpose, permitted and regulated under Standard 1.3.1 of the Food Standards Code.
It is a substance added to food to perform a technological function such as colouring, preserving, thickening or sweetening, rather than being eaten as a food on its own.
Standard 1.3.1 of the Food Standards Code lists the permitted additives, the foods they can be used in and any maximum permitted levels.
No. An additive may only be used where it is permitted for that food, serves a genuine technological purpose and is used at the lowest level needed to achieve it.
They are declared in the ingredient list by their class name together with either the specific name or an approved code number.
No. A code number simply identifies a permitted additive that has been assessed for its use, and it must still meet the conditions in Standard 1.3.1.