A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives

by Ruth Winter

What am I eating? This book answers that question by describing more than 8,000 ingredients found in foods. The dictionary format lets you look up an ingredient alphabetically and learn what it is, how and why it's used, and the benefits and risks. You can decode an ingredient from a food label--haven't you always wondered just what "guar gum" is?--or just skim for interesting facts. For example, the entry on "civet, absolute" explains that this essential oil used as a flavoring is "derived from the unctuous secretions from the receptacles between the anus and genitalia of both the male and female civet cat." Not very appetizing! You'll find this ingredient in raspberry, butter, caramel, grape, and rum flavorings in beverages, desserts, and chewing gum. This book also explains commonly used (but poorly understood) food-label terms like "lite" and "low fat," what counts as a serving for different food groups, and various ways of processing food. There's a helpful chart of food storage guidelines, and resources (including Web sites) for people with food allergies or sensitivities. Ruth Winter, an award-winning science writer, is also the author of A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients and several other books. --Joan Price

Genres: Health, Reference, Food, Nonfiction, Nutrition

496 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 1982

Reviews

[Jeannie Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this isn't a book one would read cover to cover it is a great reference book that I continue to refer to almost daily. If the sheer size of the book alone doesn't shock you (almost 600 pgs.) the content will because it contains descriptions of over 12,000 FOOD additives (many harmful) that appear on our (American) nutrition labels! Maybe this will be your incentive to buy organic and avoid processed foods. Do you know what you've been consuming and feeding your family? Find out now.

[Stela Idrizi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and learned so much about the things that I have always wondered about concerning food labeling and additives. A great book if you are looking to educate yourself on the matter.

[(Kelly) Wistful Texan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the many toxins that are in our food. Fantastic resource.

[Kristin]

Very interesting! I didn't read the entire book, only the chapter at the beginning because it is a dictionary. There is so much b.s. surrounding the food industry...so many government agencies and subagencies, different regulations. I plan to keep the book with my cookbooks so I can look up ingredients that are on labels.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You'd be surprised what's in your food. It's not quite so effective if you make everything from scratch, but if you buy the occasional (or often) packaged food, this resource will help you figure out which of your foods have coloring that comes from coal... mmm.

[Jenava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call me crazy, but I like to know what goes into my body.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

library is ordering!!!

[Brittany Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's actually pretty cool! I didn't fully read this because it's more like a dictionary but it's a wonderful reference!

[Saleris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book bought for food ingredient information. It works.