Question

In 5-6 paragraphs explain a brief history of food additives. the GRAS list & Delang Cause.

type only , no hand writing

Answer 1

The History of Food Additives:

            Using of food additives has been plasticizsed since several centuries. Our distant ancestors smoked meat to improve its taste and submerged it into saltwater as a preservative. The proliferation of the spice trade, which began as early as 3000 B.C., increased the demand for additives to enhance the taste of food. During this time, it is also possible that our ancestors discovered the preservation benefits of sugar. Historical records also include the use of spices to preserve meat and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

            In the first century, when America’s inhabitants generally fended for their food, most people bought or produced farm-grown food, negating the need for additives from a preservation standpoint. The vast majority of the population lived in a similar fashion all the way up to the Industrial Revolution.

            The period from the late 1800’s to the 20th century is noteworthy for its technological advancements and the vast migration from rural to urban life. The period saw vast improvements in farming equipment, the advent of refrigeration, new and elaborate transportation networks, and the introduction of canning. Together, these technological innovations, combined with the urban relocation of millions of people, led to a drastic increase in the nation’s food output.

            In many ways, people’s demand for quality and convenient food stemmed the proliferation of food additives. In order to meet these demands and remain cost effective at the same time, producers began to package and transport food at a feverish pace.

            Consumer demand continued to erupt as the 20th century unfolded. Facing exponential market demand, producers continued to rely on technology to satisfy consumers. The use of additives was not scientifically researched, nor was knowledge about such processes widely available. As such, the process of adding unnatural substances to food to improve taste, increase shelf life, and placate the populace became routine.

GRAS List:

            GRAS refers to generally recognized as safe, a status label assigned by the FDA to a listing of substances (GRAS list) not known to be hazardous to health and thus approved for use in foods. The FDA first published a list of these generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances in the Federal Register of December 9, 1958. This list came to be called the GRAS list. Now it totals hundreds of substances including those that are added to cotton fabrics or paper and paperboard used as food packaging materials.