1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Chemistry

Food Additives - Names Starting with A

List of Additives and What They Do

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com

Index of Food Additives

  • Acacia - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener, Whipping Agent
  • Acesulfame Potassium - Sweetener
  • Acetaldehyde - Flavoring
  • Acetanisole - Flavoring
  • Acetic Acid, Glacial - Acidifier, Flavoring
  • Acetic and Fatty Acid Esters of Glycerol - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Whipping Agent
  • Acetion Acetophenone - Flavoring
  • Acetone - Extraction Solvent, Solubilizer, Solvent, Vehicle
  • Acetone Peroxides - Bleaching Agent, Dough Conditioner, Flour Treatment Agent, Maturing Agent, Oxidizing Agent
  • Acetylated Distarch Adipate - Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener
  • Acetylated Distarch Phosphate - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Thickener, Whipping Agent
  • Acetylated Monoglycerides - Antisticking Agent, Coating Agent, Emulsifier, Film Former, Foaming Agent, Glaze, Lubricant, Polish, Release Agent, Solubilizer, Solvent, Surface-Finishing Agent, Texture-Modifying Agent, Texturizer, Vehicle, Whipping Agent
  • Acid Treated Starch - Binder, Filler, Gelling Agent, Plasticizer, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener
  • Activated Carbon - Decolorizing Agent, Odor Removing Agent, Taste Removing Agent
  • Adipic Acid - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent
  • Agar - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener, Whipping Agent
  • Alginic Acid - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener, Whipping Agent
  • Alkaline Treated Starch - Binder, Filler, Gelling Agent, Plasticizer, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener
  • Allura Red Ac - Color
  • Allyl alpha-Ionone - Flavoring
  • Allyl Cyclohexanepropionate - Flavoring
  • Allyl Heptanoate - Flavoring
  • Allyl Hexanoate - Flavoring
  • Allyl Isothiocyanate - Flavoring
  • Allyl Isovalerate - Flavoring
  • Allyl Tiglate - Flavoring
  • Almond Oil, Bitter, FFPA - Flavoring
  • alpha-Amyl Cinnamic Aldehyde - Flavoring
  • alpha-Amyl Cinnamic Aldehyde Dimethyl Acetal - Flavoring
  • alpha-Amyl Cinnamyl Alcohol - Flavoring Agent
  • alpha-Amylase (Aspergillus Oryzae) - Enzyme
  • alpha-Amylase (Bacillus Megaterium) Expressed in Bacillus Subtilis - Enzyme
  • alpha-Amylase (Bacillus Stearothermophilus) - Enzyme
  • alpha-Amylase (Bacillus Stearothermophilus) Expressed in Bacillus Subtilis - Enzyme
  • alpha-Amylase (Bacillus Subtilis) - Enzyme
  • alpha-Amylase and Glucoamylase (Aspergillus Oryzae) - Enzyme
  • alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde - Flavoring
  • alpha-Hexyl Cinnamic Aldehyde - Flavoring
  • alpha-Hexylcinnamaldehyde - Flavoring
  • alpha-Ionone - Flavoring
  • alpha-Methyl Cinnamic Aldehyde - Flavoring
  • alpha-Methylbenzyl Alcohol - Flavoring
  • alpha-Methylcinnamaldehyde - Flavoring
  • alpha-Phellandrene - Flavoring
  • alpha-Pinene - Flavoring
  • alpha-Terpinene - Flavoring
  • Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate - Color Fixative, Firming Agent
  • Aluminum Potassium Sulfate - Buffer, Firming Agent, Neutralizing Agent
  • Aluminum Powder - Color
  • Aluminum Silicate - Anticaking Agent, Drying Agent
  • Aluminum Sodium Sulfate - Buffer, Firming Agent, Neutralizing Agent
  • Aluminum Sulfate - Firming Agent
  • Aluminun Ammonium Sulfate - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent
  • Amaranth - Color
  • Ambrette Seed Oil - Flavoring
  • Ammonium Adipate - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent
  • Ammonium Alginate - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener, Whipping Agent
  • Ammonium Bicarbonate - Alkali, Leavening Agent
  • Ammonium Carbonate - Buffer, General Purpose Additive, Leavening Agent, Neutralizing Agent
  • Ammonium Chloride - Dough Conditioner, Yeast Food
  • Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate - Buffer, Dough Conditioner, Leavening Agent, Neutralizing Agent
  • Ammonium Hydrogen Carbonate - Alkali, Leavening Agent
  • Ammonium Hydroxide - Alkali
  • Ammonium Persulfate - Flour Treatment Agent
  • Ammonium Phosphate, Dibasic - Buffer, Dough Conditioner, Leavening Agent, Neutralizing Agent, Yeast Food
  • Ammonium Phosphate, Monobasic - Buffer, Dough Conditioner, Leavening Agent, Neutralizing Agent, Yeast Food
  • Ammonium Saccharin - Nonnutritive Sweetener, Sugar Substitute
  • Ammonium Salts of Phosphatidic Acid - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Whipping Agent
  • Ammonium Sulfate - Dough Conditioner, General Purpose Additive, Yeast Food
  • Amyl Acetate - Carrier Solvent, Flavoring
  • Amyl Cinnamate - Flavoring
  • Amyl Octanoate - Flavoring
  • Amyl Propionate - Flavoring
  • Amyloglucosidases (Aspergillus Niger Var.) - Enzyme
  • Amyris Oil, West Indian Type - Flavoring
  • Anethole - Flavoring
  • Angelica Root Oil - Flavoring
  • Anise Oil - Flavoring
  • Anisole - Flavoring
  • Anisyl Acetate - Flavoring
  • Anisyl Alcohol - Flavoring
  • Anisylacetone - Flavoring
  • Annatto Extracts - Color
  • Anoxomer - Antioxidant
  • Ascorbic Acid - Antioxidant, Dietary Supplement, Nutrient, Preservative
  • Ascorbyl Palmitate - Antioxidant
  • Ascorbyl Stearate - Antioxidant
  • Aspartame - Flavor Enhancer, Intensifier, Nonnutritive Sweetener, Sugar Substitute, Sweetener
  • Avian Pepsin - Enzyme
  • Azodicarbonamide - Flour Treatment Agent, Maturing Agent
  • Azorubine - Color

Recent Chemistry Features

Explore Chemistry

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Chemistry
  4. Everyday Chemistry
  5. Food & Cooking Chemistry
  6. Food Additives - Names Starting with A>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.