Artificial food flavour~~~

When u bought a banana cake , did you smell that it has a strong banana smell ?Do u think that the smell is come from the banana itself? The answer is NO. Food flavour is added to the cake to enhance the smell of the banana and make the cake strong of banana smell. By using this food flavour, it is the cheapest way for the food manufacturer to produce foods.

There are three different of flavour; natural flavouring, natural identity flavouring and artificial flavouring. Natural flavours are extract from plant or animal sources, by physical, microbiological or enzymatic processes. Nature-identical flavour are obtained by synthesis or isolated through chemical processes which are chemically identical. Artificial flavours are obtained by chemical and they are not extract from plant or animal sources.

One of the chocolate roll is made by real chocolate and another is made by artificial chocolate. Can you guess that which is real and which is not?

The answer is the big chocolate roll is an artificial. Now we can't differentiate the real and the artificial by aroma, taste and appearance. We can only differentiate them by reading the nutrition label. Sometimes, the food manufacturer using "flavour" and "flavoured" instead of using "natural" or "artificial". If the product that really contain real chocolate, it can be called "chocolate flavoured" while those contain artificial flavour, it only can be known as"chocolate flavour" (which without "ed").

Food flavouring mainly contain of ester which has a pleasant smell. Artificial flavouring can be produced by esterification from alcohol and acid (usually a carboxylic acid). I'm going to introduce some of the artificial flavour in here.

i) Buthyl-butanoate

This ester give a pineapple aroma which is an organic compound and formed by butanol and butyric acid. It is insoluble in water and a clear, colourless liquid.

ii) Isoamyl acetate

Isoamyl acetate also known as isopentyl acetate which is an organic compound that formed from isoamyl alcohol and acetic acid. This ester give a strong banana aroma.



iii) Methyl anthranilate

This ester give a grape scent. It is a clear to pale yellow liquid and slightly soluble in water.It is combustible. It is formed by esterification of anthranilic acid and methanol.

iv) Benzyl acetate

This ester give a jasmine smell. It can be found naturally in many flowers. It is formed by benzyl alcohol and acetic acid.

v) Ethyl formate


This ester give a raspberries flavour and it is formed by esterification of ethanol and formic acid (methanoic acid)




that, snacks such as potato chips (my favourite) contain artificial food flavour and food enhancer. Food enhancer give us salty taste or sweet taste or sour taste. The most popular enhancer is Monosodium glutamate (MSG) or known as glutamic salt.

MSG which made by using bacterial or yeast to ferment carbohydrate. It is a white crystalline powder. When it is in our mouth, the saliva will break it into sodium cations and glutamate anions. If it is eaten at a customary levels and not consume too often then it is safe for most people because many researches had carried out and shown that MSG is not good to consume.

Side effect of food additives such as

a) worsening of asthmatic symptoms

b) increase hyperactive behaviour especially in kids

c) cause allergy

d)Glutamic acid is a neurotransmitter that excites our neurons not just in our tongues. This electrical charging of neurons is what makes foods with added free glutamic acid taste so good. Unfortunately, the free glutamic acid can cause problem to our brain. Our brains have many receptors for glutamic acid and some areas, such as the hypothalamus do not have an impermeable blood-brain barrier, so free glutamic acid from food sources can get into the brain, this can injure and sometimes kill the neurons.

e)A burning sensation in the back of the neck, forearms and chest

f) Chest pain

g) Nausea

h) Rapid heartbeat

i)Drowsiness

To maintain a good health, we must maintain the habit of eating healthy by following the food pyramid as shown below. A healthy body and healthy mind are important so that YOU can live longer and enjoy longer. I also need to say bye bye to my favourite PRINGLES so we work together to minimize the intake of junk food so can live a long and healthy life.

SO START FROM NOW MINIMIZE CONSUMING FOOD THAT CONTAIN MSG AND OTHER UNHEALTHY FOOD....