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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

Gm food Quantity and control

One is able to tell us for certain the number of food additives we consume nor the quantity, but it is thought that, on average, a person vrill consume anything from 3 to 7 kg (7y2 to 15 lb) each year. TKs figure varies considerably, depending on a person's diet: a teenager who consumes large quantities of prepackaged snack foods and fizzy drinks "~11 consume far more additives than a person who eats mainly simple, home-prepared dishes.

There is growing evidence that some accepted food additives may have adverse effects on some people. Just over 300 food additives are regulated and monitored by government agencies, yet this is only about ' one tenth of the 3, 500 food additives used by the food industry. This means that there could be as many as 3,000 different

Gm flavourings

chemicals being added to our food and drink which are not being fully tested. Flavourings, starches are the least regulated of groups of additives. Some groups of additives have to be declared by their generic name and either their specific name or a number allocated by the EEC - E numbers. So, tartrazine can appear either as 'Colouring - tartrazine' or 'Colouring - E102'. There are additives which do not, as yet, have E numbers, but some of these simply have a number without the E prefix. These are numbers which are not recognized by the EEC but which have been aUocated by the lJK authorities. Those additives that are controlled by the Government are subjected to extensive tests before they are allocated serial numbers.

Cant test GM on humans

Obviously, it is not ethical to test food additives on humans so the main tests to assess safety are carried out on ardmals. Insecticides and sprays, There are also additives that are not listed on food packets. Most fruit, vegetables and cereals are sprayed with chemicals to prevent insects and micro-organisms causing rot and diseases, and with fertilizers to increase vegetable yields. Strictly speaking these are additives that are cause for concern but you won't find them labelled in your greengrocers' shop.

The best precaution you can take against the effect of insecticides and sprays is to scrub fruit and vegetables thorougidy in water before you use them. It is important to do this whether or not you are going to peel the skins. Alternatively you can buy organicaUy grown fruit, vegetables and cereals from wholefood shops and some supermarkets.

CONCLUSION

Some butchers stock meat from animals that have not been fed growth hormones and antibiotics and that have been reared naturally. Read the label The following table gives a selection of the additives and serial numbers listed in the Ministry of Agriculture, Foods and Fisheries' leaflet look at the Label. These are among the additives most commonly found in our daily diet. We also list some of the foods in which they are used, as well as the functions they perform.