Past

Food Additives: What Are They Good For?

This class has passed
This class has passed

What’s it all about?

E951, BHT, E220, MSG, HFCS, Red AC, 407a, 161d and FCF. Wait! What are all these numbers and letters doing in my food?

From emulsifiers and thickeners to potassium bromate and calcium propionate learn why more than 300 additives are added to our food. This workshop will clarify once and for all what additives are and whether they perform an important, valid function in food. Warning: the answer may not be as simple as you think.

What will we cover?

In this class we will:

  • Discover more than six sides to the ‘food additive’ story.
  • Learn to decode sneaky marketing tricks like how products labeled “no artificial colours and flavours” can still contain artificial colours and flavours.
  • Appreciate the useful information hidden in ingredient lists.
  • Learn about unexpected ways that unwanted chemicals get into our food.
  • Identify what makes a chemical poisonous.
  • End the controversy and decide: is organic really best?

Who will be teaching?

SivanSivan Kohn has been fascinated with science and health ever since she got her first home lab kit at age three! She is a Clinical Pharmacologist and science geek with a Masters degree in Public Health and a huge interest in health promotion. After spending more than 15 years working for hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical companies and the government, she started her own business dedicated to promoting health. Buzz Biomedical uses a scientific approach to promote health, correct misconceptions and decode the confusing and conflicting health information we are constantly exposed to.