Guide to Food Additives - V

Guide to Food Additives - V

Name Other Names Purpose Source 5

Vanilla

Bourbon/Madagascar vanilla, Mexican vanilla, Tahitian vanilla, West Indian vanilla

Flavoring and aromatic agent. Used as whole pods, extracts in alcohol, powder with bulking agents, and vanilla sugars. Used in cooking, baked goods, beverages, confectionery, candies, condiments, cookies, cakes, ice-cream and chocolate.

The plant is primarily produced in Madagascar, Indonesia, China and Mexico

Vanillin

Methyl vanillin, ethylvanillin

Used to flavor foods, drinks, ice-creams, chocolate, baked goods, confections and various foods to replace vanilla demand and pricing.

Prominently found in vanilla pods and aged oak wine barrels. Chemically synthesized for commercial purposes or extracted from cured vanilla seed pods

Vegetable carbon

E152, Acetylene black, channel black, furnace black

Black coloring agent used in the food and beverage packaging

Certain rules and restrictions may apply to its use depending on the country

Synthetic, obtained from vegetables

Vinegar

“sour wine”

Used in sauces, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, chutneys, condiments, marinades, soups, drinks, and cooking

Produced by fermentation using fruits, grains, alcoholic drinks, cane, palm and other materials

Violaxanthin

E161e

An Orange and yellow pigment used as a food coloring.

Not approved in the USA and UK. Banned in Australia and New Zealand.

Found in several plants(eg. pansies)

Vitamin A

Retinol

Used in supplements or to fortify foods. Fat-soluble.

Found in various foods such as fish, dairy and meat

Vitamin B1

Thiamin, aneurine

Used in supplements or to fortify foods. Water-soluble vitamin.

Found in various foods such as grains, legumes, meat and fish

Vitamin B2

Riboflavin

Used in supplements or to fortify foods.Water-soluble vitamin.

Found in various foods such as eggs, leafy vegetables, cheese, legumes, meats, almonds, organ meats, and milk

Vitamin B3

Niacin, bionic, Nicotinic acid

Used in supplements or to fortify foods. Water-soluble vitamin.

Found in various foods such as tuna, turkey, pork, seafood, veal, peppers, mushrooms, seeds, potato, whole grains

Vitamin B5

Pantothenic acid

Used in supplements or to fortify foods. Water-soluble vitamin.

Found in various foods such as pork, turkey, beef, dark chocolate, potatoes, pistachios, and chickpeas

Vitamin B6

Pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, pyridoxal

Used in supplements or to fortify foods.Water-soluble vitamin

Found in various foods such as pork, turkey, bananas, beef, dark chocolate, pistachios, potatoes

Vitamin B7

Biotin, Vitamin H, Vitamin B8

Used in supplements or to fortify foods. Water-soluble vitamin

Found in various foods such as chicken liver, beef, pork liver, yeast, avocado, peanuts, salmon, sunflower seeds

Vitamin B9

Folate, folacin

Used in supplements or to fortify foods. The manufactured form is folic acid. Water-soluble vitamin.

Found in various foods such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, asparagus, spinach, walnuts, tofu, potatoes, chicken liver, cheese, eggs, salmon, yogurt, pork

Vitamin B12

Cobalamin

Used in supplements or to fortify foods. Essential water-soluble vitamin.

Found in various foods such as meat, fish, eggs, algae, tempeh, and dairy.

Vitamin C

E300 – ascorbic acid, E301 - sodium ascorbate, E302 – calcium ascorbate, E303 – potassium ascorbate, E304 – fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid

Used in supplements or to fortify foods, canned fruits, and drinks. Essential water-soluble vitamin.

Found in various fruits, vegetables, and organ meats

Vitamin D

Cholecalciferol, ergacalciferol

Used in supplements or to fortify foods, canned fruits, meal replacement bars, plant-based yogurts, and drinks. Fat-soluble.

Not found in most foods but synthesized in the body. Found in fungi, mushrooms, and animals.

Vitamin E

Tocopherols, tocotrienols, alpha-tocopherol

Used in supplements or to fortify foods in cereals, beverages, and meal replacement products. Fat-soluble.

Found in various plants and animals such as almond oil, sunflower oil, pistachios, pine nuts, peanut butter, avocados, rice, fish, butter, cheese, and eggs

Vitamin K

Phylloquinone(Vitamin K1), menaquinone(Vitamin K2)

Used in supplements or to fortify foods in cereals, beverages, and meal replacement products. Fat-soluble.

Vitamin K1 found in plants such as kale, spinach, parsley, and turnips. Vitamin K2 is found mainly in eggs, dairy, meat, cheese, and yogurt.