PHAR 100 EXAM 3 2O25 GRADED A+ REVISED NEW
EDITION EXAMNINATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are Food Additives? - Food additives are substances that are added to food to improve the
appearance, texture, and storage of food. This may also include substances added during the
processing of food or added to improve nutritive value (e.g., addition of vitamins and minerals to
certain foods, such as the addition of iodine to salt).
Food additives can be categorized into two classes: - unintentional and intentional.
Intentional food additives are - substances that are added to food to improve the appearance,
texture, and storage of food.
Examples of intentional food additives include: - Vitamins and minerals; Flavours; Colours;
Preservatives; Texture agents
Unintentional food additives are - added inadvertently as a result of the growing, manufacturing, and
storage processes of food. These are often termed contaminants. The amount that is present in food
is limited by regulations.
Examples of unintentional food additives include: - Fertilizers; Pesticides; Heavy metals; Biohazardous
contamination
Food Additive Regulations in Canada - The regulation of food additives in Canada is conducted by the
Food and Drug Regulations under the authority of Health Canada. All permitted food additives and
their conditions of use are listed in the Lists of Permitted Food Additives . If a particular food additive
is not on this list, the manufacturer is required to submit information on the proposed use, evidence
of safety, and information on the effectiveness of the additive. The submission is then evaluated by
Health Canada scientists before approval is granted.
Most food additives could be eliminated, but this would result in a dramatic change in our lifestyles.
Explain; - Supermarkets would be reduced to one-fifth of their current size, and it would be difficult
to transport food.
Since food additives are here to stay, safety evaluations must be conducted regularly. In fact,
regulations are more stringent for food additives than for OTC drugs. Can you think of why this might
be? - Food additives are consumed without our knowledge - most of the time, you do not know they
are present even though they must be on the label; They are taken for a lifetime by the entire
, population; Healthcare professionals are not involved with food additives and are, therefore, not
available to give advice regarding food additives in the same way that advice is given for OTC drugs;
Young children are exposed during vulnerable periods; They are not essential for life.
The technique used to determine risk/benefit is to - study the toxicity in animals and then
extrapolate the results to humans.
List the limitations of using animal models for food additive risk/harm benefits: - Exposure;
assumption of risk
Exposure as a limitation to animal models assessing for risk/harm benefits of food additives - The
extent of exposure in humans is difficult to replicate in animals. Additives are administered to
animals for one or two years, while humans can be exposed their entire lives. Risk estimates must be
made on a lifetime of exposure.
Assumption of Risk as a limitation to animal models assessing for risk/harm benefits of food additives
- they are usually tested in animals and the highest no-effect dose is calculated. The acceptable
human dose is then taken as 1/100 or 1/1000 of the maximum no-effect dose in animals. The
assumption made is that studying high doses in animals will mimic low-dose, lifetime exposure in
humans. The human exposure is based on estimates of the intake of that particular food. Fortunately,
the assumptions tend to overestimate the actual risk.
Food Additives as Carcinogens - Food additives are carefully tested for carcinogenicity and if a
positive response is observed in any test system, the compound is usually not allowed as a food
additive. This concept may seem excessively stringent, but not when you consider that the entire
population is exposed to the additive.
The World Health Organization (W H O) has adopted a few principles concerning food additives, list
them: - function; quantity; purity; toxicology evaluation; special groups
WHO food additive principle: Function - Use of additives is justified if they enhance or maintain the
quality or acceptability of food.
WHO food additive principle: Quantity - Additives should be used only in quantities sufficient to
obtain stated ends.
WHO food additive principle: Purity - Additives should be pure.
EDITION EXAMNINATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are Food Additives? - Food additives are substances that are added to food to improve the
appearance, texture, and storage of food. This may also include substances added during the
processing of food or added to improve nutritive value (e.g., addition of vitamins and minerals to
certain foods, such as the addition of iodine to salt).
Food additives can be categorized into two classes: - unintentional and intentional.
Intentional food additives are - substances that are added to food to improve the appearance,
texture, and storage of food.
Examples of intentional food additives include: - Vitamins and minerals; Flavours; Colours;
Preservatives; Texture agents
Unintentional food additives are - added inadvertently as a result of the growing, manufacturing, and
storage processes of food. These are often termed contaminants. The amount that is present in food
is limited by regulations.
Examples of unintentional food additives include: - Fertilizers; Pesticides; Heavy metals; Biohazardous
contamination
Food Additive Regulations in Canada - The regulation of food additives in Canada is conducted by the
Food and Drug Regulations under the authority of Health Canada. All permitted food additives and
their conditions of use are listed in the Lists of Permitted Food Additives . If a particular food additive
is not on this list, the manufacturer is required to submit information on the proposed use, evidence
of safety, and information on the effectiveness of the additive. The submission is then evaluated by
Health Canada scientists before approval is granted.
Most food additives could be eliminated, but this would result in a dramatic change in our lifestyles.
Explain; - Supermarkets would be reduced to one-fifth of their current size, and it would be difficult
to transport food.
Since food additives are here to stay, safety evaluations must be conducted regularly. In fact,
regulations are more stringent for food additives than for OTC drugs. Can you think of why this might
be? - Food additives are consumed without our knowledge - most of the time, you do not know they
are present even though they must be on the label; They are taken for a lifetime by the entire
, population; Healthcare professionals are not involved with food additives and are, therefore, not
available to give advice regarding food additives in the same way that advice is given for OTC drugs;
Young children are exposed during vulnerable periods; They are not essential for life.
The technique used to determine risk/benefit is to - study the toxicity in animals and then
extrapolate the results to humans.
List the limitations of using animal models for food additive risk/harm benefits: - Exposure;
assumption of risk
Exposure as a limitation to animal models assessing for risk/harm benefits of food additives - The
extent of exposure in humans is difficult to replicate in animals. Additives are administered to
animals for one or two years, while humans can be exposed their entire lives. Risk estimates must be
made on a lifetime of exposure.
Assumption of Risk as a limitation to animal models assessing for risk/harm benefits of food additives
- they are usually tested in animals and the highest no-effect dose is calculated. The acceptable
human dose is then taken as 1/100 or 1/1000 of the maximum no-effect dose in animals. The
assumption made is that studying high doses in animals will mimic low-dose, lifetime exposure in
humans. The human exposure is based on estimates of the intake of that particular food. Fortunately,
the assumptions tend to overestimate the actual risk.
Food Additives as Carcinogens - Food additives are carefully tested for carcinogenicity and if a
positive response is observed in any test system, the compound is usually not allowed as a food
additive. This concept may seem excessively stringent, but not when you consider that the entire
population is exposed to the additive.
The World Health Organization (W H O) has adopted a few principles concerning food additives, list
them: - function; quantity; purity; toxicology evaluation; special groups
WHO food additive principle: Function - Use of additives is justified if they enhance or maintain the
quality or acceptability of food.
WHO food additive principle: Quantity - Additives should be used only in quantities sufficient to
obtain stated ends.
WHO food additive principle: Purity - Additives should be pure.
