A Guide to Food Additives - B

Baking Powder

Leavening agent, mixture of carbonate and weak acid, increases volume of baked goods and creates the bubbly effect in breads and cookies

Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda

Leavening agent, mixture of carbonate(base) and weak acids releases carbon dioxide to fluff pancakes, cakes and baked goods.

Balm

Balm mint, lemon balm

Plant attracts bees to make honey, flavoring for ice-cream, candies & teas,

Barberry

Berberis

Edible berries with sharp acidic flavor and used in ethnic foods, candies, drinks and jams to give a sour flavor

Basil

Great basil

Normally used fresh in various ethnic foods for flavoring

Bay leaves

Sharp, fragrant & bitter spice, used in cuisines across the globe

Beeswax

E901, cera alba

Coating cheese, glazing agent to prevent water loss, protective fruit surfaces, gelatin capsules, natural chewing gum

Beet red

E162, Betanin, Beetroot red

Red food dye in ice cream, beverages, confectionery, candies, tomato & bacon products, sausages

Bentonite

Pubchem

Volcanic ash, phyllosilicate clay

Protein absorber used in white wine making during clarification and removing cloudiness

Benzoic acid

Pubchem

E210, E211, E212, E213, Carboxybenzene, dracylic acid

White colorless solid, preservative that inhibits growth of mold, yeast and some bacteria, added to fruit juice, sparkling drinks, soft drinks, pickles & acidified foods

Benzoyl peroxide

Pubchem

E928, Benzac

Flour treating agent, oxidizes carotenoids in flour which changes its color from yellow to white

Bergamot

Citrus Bergamia, bergamot orange

Edible orange fruit, flavor for Earl Grey & Lady Grey teas, confectionery, marmalade, candy

Beta-ap-8'-carotenal

Pubchem

E160e, Apocarotenal

Orange-red color, used in fatty foods such as sauces, dressings, drinks, dairy and sweet foods

Betanin

Pubchem

E162, Beet red, Beetroot red

Red food dye in ice cream, beverages, confectionery, candies, tomato & bacon products, sausages

Biphenyl

Pubchem

E230, Diphenyl, lemonene, BP

Antimicrobial food preservative

Bison grass

Sweet grass, vanilla grass, holy grass, hierchloe odorata

Aromatic herb(coumarin, active aromatic) used in producing distilled beverages,

Bixin

Pubchem

beta-Bixin

Natural orange food color in trace amounts, soluble in fats and alcohol but insoluble in water

Black cardamom

Amomum subulatum, Indian cardamom, hill cardamom, brown cardamom

Smokey & minty flavor & aroma used in savory(not sweet) ethnic dishes, especially Chinese, Indian & Vietnaamese

Black cumin

(Two plants)

Great pignut, earthnut

OR

Black caraway, nigella, kalonji

Garnish, pastes, seasoning, flavoring, ethnic cuisines

Black limes

Dried lime, noom basra, loomi

Adds sourness to Middle Eastern & Persian foods, lacks sweetness of regular lime, earthy and smoky

Black pepper

Peppercorn

Spicy hot(bioactive: piperine), aromatic(bioactive: rotundone), used to enhance flavor and aroma

Black PN

Pubchem

E151, Brilliant Black PN, Food Black 1, Naphthol Black

Water soluble black food dye, used in desserts, sweets, ice-cream, jams, soft drinks, caviar and pastes.

Banned in US, Japan, Switzerland, Approved in EU.

Bleached starch

Starch, bleached, sub-class of modified starches

Emulsifier, stabilizer & thickener in desserts, pizza toppings, cheese sauces, industrial yogurt, low fat salami, Olestra,

Bolivian Coriander

Porophyllum ruderale

Seasoning herb used in Mexican salsas and soups

Borage

Starflower, Borago officinalis

Used in German & Italian recipes such as soups, fillings & pickles, garnishing cocktails

Borax

Pubchem

E285, Sodium borate, disodium tetraborate

Soft whtie crystals soluble in water, used as a preservative and adding rubbery texture to food.

Banned in USA, China and other countries

Brilliant blue FCF

Pubchem

E133, Acid Blue 9, Brilliant Blue FD, Blue #1, FD&C Blue No. 1

Blue coloring agent in ice-cream, cotton candy, canned foods, packed soups, food coloring, blueberry products, dairy, sweets, iceings,liqueurs and beverages, poorly absorbed in GI and 95% passes through

Brilliant Scarlet 4R

Pubchem

E124, Ponceau 4R, Brilliant Scarlet 3R, New Coccine

Heat & Light stable red dye

Used in Europe, Asia & Australia but not approved in USA

Butane

Pubchem

E943a, N-Butane, Liquefied Petroleum gas

Propellant in very small doses

Butylated hydroxyanisole

Pubchem

E320, BHA, BOA

Anti-oxidant & waxy solid added to edible fats & fatty foods to prevent rancidity and odors, scavenges free radicals in meat, beer, baked goods, dry beverage, dessert mixes, chewing gum

BHA in California is deemed as a carcinogen

Butylated hydroxtoluene

Pubchem

E321, BHT, DBPC, AO-29

Anti-oxidant in tiny amounts in "enriched rice" and poultry, preservative