The Natural Resources Defense Council alleges that a loophole in a 1958 law on food ingredients has been exploited by the food industry ever since. Since the 1950's there are over 10,000 food additives/chemicals in our food. These additives are going into our foods most of the time, without the FDA's permission. Many at times we have no knowledge of what we're eating either. The importance is research.
What's really in your food? Not everything that’s added to your food is regulated by the FDA. There are many pros and cons of food additives. One pro being, increased shelf life. One con being you don't really know what you're eating!
Many wonder why when they look at the nutrition facts, they notice strange chemicals in their food. These strange chemicals are known as food additives, which serve a specific purpose in each food type. Some reasons for using additives include: to make food more appealing, increase healthfulness, improve storage properties, and improve processing and preparation.
The safety of food additives is determined not by the FDA, but by the manufacturers of the chemicals themselves. If manufacturers deem the chemical/additive is safe, they put it in their food. This is why it is important to research the safety of certain food additives and read nutrition facts.