Published Paper Details:

Food additives are the chemical substances that are added to the food and beverages to maintain their shelf life, taste, appearance or texture in form of taste makers, preservatives, colorants, antioxidants, acidity regulators, thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, anti-caking agents. Their need in the food processing industry has risen dramatically as a result of customer preferences and the economic benefits they bring to produced foods, such as longer shelf life, consistent composition, and processing ease. On the other hand, they have been linked to a variety of health issues, including allergies, asthma, cancer, metabolic changes and behavioural abnormalities in children. Artificial food colours (AFCs) are added to drinks and snacks for appealing purposes. The use of Bisphenol A in infant bottles and sippers was banned by the FDA, however, it has been substituted by bisphenol S, which possesses identical genotoxicity and estrogenicity as Bisphenol A. Nitrates and nitrites are used as preservatives particularly in meat products; phthalates, which are used to produce plastic packaging; and bisphenols, which are used in the lining of metal cans for canned food goods, are among the chemicals that have caused concern. Perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs), being used in grease-proof paper and packaging, and perchlorates, an antistatic agent used in plastic packaging, certain hormone injections given to animals in order to improve muscle mass of meat are of major concern for children. They may disrupt endocrine system of children, causing hormonal imbalance. As a result, growth and development of the child would be affected. They act as blockers of the certain growth hormones responsible for development of brain and sex organs. They also interfere with hormones required for normal metabolic functioning and therefore leading to childhood obesity or poor immunity. In conclusion, children should eat homemade fresh food preparation to avoid ingestion of harmful chemical substances through food contamination so as to grow healthy and have better physical and mental well-being.