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What are food additives?
Food additives are chemical substances that are intentionally added to food, typically in very small amounts, to enhance its appearance, texture, flavour, or shelf life.
Examples of food additives include preservatives, emulsifiers, flavouring agents, and food colouring.
Food additives can be derived from both natural and artificially synthesised sources. They do not refer to foreign substances arising from contamination or improper handling of food.
What are the food additives allowed for use in food?
Only food additives that have been assessed by SFA are permitted for use in food products sold in Singapore. For more information on how SFA assesses and allows food additive for use in food, please refer to Food Additives – are they safe?
Food additives are allowed when:
- there is a technological justification
- they do not present health risks to consumers
Download the List of Permitted Food Additives or use the Food Additives Search tool to check if your additives are allowed.
