Food Grade refers to materials and chemicals that are safe for consumption or use in the processing, packaging, and handling of food products. These substances meet strict regulatory standards set by authorities such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), or Codex Alimentarius to ensure they do not pose a risk to human health when used as intended.
Food Grade materials are used in:
Food production and processing – as additives, preservatives, pH regulators, thickeners, and emulsifiers
Beverage manufacturing – for carbonation, flavor enhancement, and microbial stability
Food packaging – in coatings, plastics, and films that come into direct contact with food
Cleaning and sanitation – in food-safe cleaning agents used in food facilities
Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals – for tableting, flavoring, and nutrient delivery
Acesulfame K
Acetaldehyde
- Chemical Structure: Acetaldehyde consists of two carbon atoms, one oxygen atom, and four hydrogen atoms. Its structure is CH3CHO, where the carbon atom in the middle is doubly bonded to an oxygen atom and singly bonded to a hydrogen atom and a methyl group (CH3).
- Occurrence: Acetaldehyde can be found naturally in various ripe fruits, coffee, and heated milk. It is also produced by the oxidation of ethanol (alcohol) by enzymes in the liver and other tissues in humans, making it an intermediate product in alcohol metabolism.