Download 20111018-foodadditives

Food additives
Focus Questions
EPISODE 29
1.
2.
3.
Food additives are sometimes represented by a ______________.
Why are additives used in some food?
MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a
a. Preservative
b. Colouring
c. Flavour enhancer
4. Why are some people concerned about additives in food?
5. Explain the eating program being trialled in a school.
6. Describe the health and behaviour differences the children noticed after
making changes to their diet.
7. What does the Government’s food safety people say about food additives
and kids’ behaviour?
8. Do you think there should be more information about additives on food
labels? Why or why not?
9. Are you concerned about additives in food? Why?
10. What was surprising about this story?
Food additives
Students will be developing some key questions about what food additives are and
why they are used. In groups, ask students to come up with a range of possible
questions about the topic. Students should be encouraged to generate their own
questions however some possibilities include:

What are some common food additives and why are they used?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of food additives?

What is an `E number’?

Is it possible to use natural instead of artificial food colourings and
preservatives?

What testing occurs to ensure food additives are safe?

What health issues are associated with food additives?

Should there be more information about additives on food labels?
Collect the questions from each group and display them. Discuss with students
the criteria for selecting questions for their inquiry.
Ask students to complete the following chart as they go through the inquiry
process. This can be done individually, as a group or a whole class.
© ABC 2011
18TH OCTOBER 2011
Learning Area
Health and Physical Education
Key learning
Students will investigate key
questions about additives
used in foods, their purpose
and health issues associated
with them.
What do I know?
What do I want to
know?
How will I find
out?
What I have
learnt?
Once students have investigated their key questions, they need to think about
how they are going to present the information to show their learning. Possibilities
include:

Publish brochure or poster

Written report

Animation or short video

Oral presentation
Reflection
Have your food choices changed since completing this investigation. Why or why
not?
Further investigation
Choose 5 packaged foods that you eat regularly and find the additives labelled on the
packet. Research what eat additive does (flavour enhancer, preservative, colour).
 Related Research Links
ABC 730 – Healthy foods keeping the kids happy
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3328245.htm
Betterhealth Channel – Food additivies
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Food_additives
Food Standards Australia New Zealand – What do food additives do?
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumerinformation/additives/whatdofoodad
ditivesd5022.cfm
Thinkquest – Food additives
http://library.thinkquest.org/C001722/additiveswhole.html
© ABC 2011