A+-+organic+compounds+addded+in+food

**Date of Presentation: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 ** ===__Organic Chemistry__  ===
 * Name: Nadia Kim **

**Q: Why are organic compounds added to food products? What impact can these additives have on human health? **

**A: **A food additive is any substance added in food to obtain a certain result. Many organic compounds are used as food additives and have many uses. They are added to food products to prevent it from spoiling, for flavouring, for preserving, for colouring, and for texturing. These additives can have both positive and negative effects on human health. Some examples of organic compounds added to food products are benzoic acid (benzene carboxylic acid), sodium benzoate, saccharin, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate.

 **Benzoic acid** · Used as a food preservative · Inhibits the growth of yeast, mould and some bacteria · May react with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in soft drinks which forms small quantities of benzene, a carcinogen

**Sodium benzoate **
 * Used as a preservative for fruit, fruit juices, jams, salad dressings, carbonated drinks, and pickles
 * Also forms benzene when combined with vitamin C
 * When added with certain artificial colours, it may be linked to hyperactive behaviour

**Saccharin **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">A non-nutritive sweetener that was banned in Canada as a food additive since 1970s. It was found to be carcinogenic in laboratory rats. However, more recently the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that saccharin is not a carcinogen in humans. In 2006, a letter from Health Canada was sent to stakeholders informing them of possibly using saccharin as a food additive again.

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Aspartame **<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">(1-aspartyl-1-phenylalanin methyl ester)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">Artificial sweetener, allowed as a food additive in Canada since 1981 for soft drinks, desserts, breakfast cereals, and gum [[image:orgo3.png width="134" height="102" align="right"]]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">Made of 3 components: the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and the alcohol methanol. Excessive intake of phenylalanine for individuals suffering from an inherited metabolic disorder, called phenylketonuria can be dangerous and lead to brain damage.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">Studies have shown that aspartame is safe for humans to intake
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; tabstops: list .5in;">Benefits: helps weight control (low-calorie), enhances flavours, does not promote tooth decay and is helpful for individuals with diabetes

**<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Monosodium glutamate ** · <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">A flavour enhancing ingredient used to enhance the flavours of food such as soups, salads, casseroles, meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetable dishes. · <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Is not a health hazard to consumer, however, some individuals may have a temporary allergic-type reaction or hypersensitivity which may include: a burning sensation, facial pressure, headache, nausea and chest paid

**__<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Bibliography __** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Hadley, E. (2008). // Benzoic acid //. McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from < [] > <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Health Canada. (2008). // Monosodium glutamate (MSG) – Questions and Answers. // Retrieved October 24, from < [] > <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Jirage, R. (2009). // Dangers of Food Additives and Preservatives. // Buzzle.com. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from < [] > <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. (2010). // Aspartame. // Retrieved October 25, 2010, from < []> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;">Health Canada. (2007). // Saccharin. // Retrieved October 25, 2010, from < <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10.5pt;"> []>