Functional Classes

Back to Dairy Additives Database Food categories Functional classes Glossary

Name Description Synonyms
Acidity regulator A food additive, which controls the acidity or alkalinity of a food.
  • acidity regulator
  • acid
  • acidifier
  • alkali
  • base
  • buffer
  • buffering agent
  • pH adjusting agent
Anticaking agent A food additive, which reduces the tendency of components of food to adhere to one another.
  • anticaking agent
  • anti-stick agent
  • drying agent
  • dusting agent
Antifoaming agent A food additive, which prevents or reduces foaming.
  • antifoaming agent
  • defoaming agent
Antioxidant A food additive, which prolongs the shelf-life of foods by protecting against deterioration caused by oxidation.
  • antioxidant
  • antioxidant synergist
  • antibrowning agent
Bleaching agent A food additive (non-flour use) used to decolorize food. Bleaching agents do not include pigments.
  • bleaching agent
Bulking agent A food additive, which contributes to the bulk of a food without contributing significantly to its available energy value.
  • bulking agent
  • filler
Carbonating agent A food additive used to provide carbonation in a food.
  • carbonating agent
Carrier A food additive used to dissolve, dilute, disperse or otherwise physically modify a food additive or nutrient without altering its function (and without exerting any technological effect itself) in order to facilitate its handling, application or use of the food additive or nutrient.
  • carrier, carrier solvent, nutrient carrier, diluent for other food additives, encapsulating agent
Color A food additive, which adds or restores color in a food.
  • color, decorative pigment, surface colorant
Color retention agent A food additive, which stabilizes, retains or intensifies the color of a food.
  • color retention agent, color fixative, color stabilizer, color adjunct
Emulsifier A food additive, which forms or maintains a uniform emulsion of two or more phases in a food.
  • emulsifier, plasticizer, dispersing agent, surface active agent, crystallization inhibitor
Emulsifying salt A food additive, which, in the manufacture of processed food, rearranges proteins in order to prevent fat separation.
  • emulsifying salt, emulsifying salt synergist, melding salt
Firming agent A food additive, which makes or keeps tissues of fruit or vegetables firm and crisp or interacts with gelling agents to produce or strengthen a gel.
  • firming agent
Flavor enhancer A food additive, which enhances the existing taste and/or odor of a food.
  • flavor enhancer, flavor synergist
Flour treatment agent A food additive, which is added to flour or dough to improve its baking quality or color.
  • flour treatment agent, flour bleaching agent, flour improver, dough conditioner
Foaming agent A food additive, which makes it possible to form or maintain a uniform dispersion of a gaseous phase in a liquid or solid food.
  • foaming agent, whipping agent, aerating agent
Gelling agent A food additive, which gives a food texture through formation of a gel.
  • gelling agent
Glazing agent A food additive, which when applied to the external surface of a food, imparts a shiny appearance or provides a protective coating.
  • glazing agent, sealing agent, coating agent, surface-finishing agent
Humectant A food additive, which prevents food from drying out by counteracting the effect of a dry atmosphere.
  • humectant, moisture-retention agent, wetting agent
Packaging gas A food additive gas, which is introduced into a container before, during or after filling with food with the intention to protect the food, for example, from oxidation or spoilage.
  • packaging gas
Preservative A food additive, which prolongs the shelf-life of a food by protecting against deterioration caused by microorganisms.
  • preservative, antimicrobial preservative, antimycotic agent, bacteriophage control agent
Propellant A food additive gas, which expels a food from a container.
  • propellant
Raising agent A food additive or a combination of food additives, which liberate(s) gas and thereby increase(s) the volume of a dough or batter.
  • raising agent
Sequestrant A food additive, which controls the availability of a cation.
  • sequestrant
Stabilizer A food additive, which makes it possible to maintain a uniform dispersion of two or more components.
  • stabilizer, foam stabilizer, colloidal stabilizer, emulsion stabilizer, stabilizer synergist, binder
Sweetener A food additive (other than a mono- or disaccharide sugar), which imparts a sweet taste to a food.
  • sweetener, intense sweetener, bulk sweetener
Thickener A food additive, which increases the viscosity of a food.
  • thickener, bodying agent, binder, texturizing agent, thickener synergist