What are secondary direct food additives and direct food additives?
According to FDAs regulations (21 CFR Part 173), secondary direct food additives are substances whose functionality is required during the manufacture or processing of a food and are ordinarily removed from the final food. Although residuals might carry over to the final food, residuals must not exhibit any technical effects. Secondary direct food additives are consistent with FDAs definition of a processing aid so labeling is not required. Examples of secondary direct food additives are acidified sodium chlorite (21 CFR 173.325) and peroxyacids (21 CFR 173.370). According to FDAs regulations (21 CFR Part 172), direct food additives are used to provide a technical effect in the final food. The antioxidants BHA and BHT are examples of substances that are approved as direct food additives.
