- Polysorbate 20 - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Whipping Agent
- Polysorbate 60 - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Whipping Agent
- Polysorbate 65 - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Whipping Agent
- Polysorbate 80 - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Whipping Agent
- Polyvinyl Acetate - Chewing Gum Base Component
- Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone - Clarifying Agent
- Polyvinylpyrrolidone - Bodying Agent, Bulking Agent, Carrier, Disintegrating Agent, Dispersing Agent, Formulation Aid, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Tableting Aid
- Ponceau 4R - Color
- Potassium Acetate - Antimicrobial Agent, Buffer, Neutralizing Agent, Preservative
- Potassium Acid Tartate - Acid, Acidifier
- Potassium Acid Tartrate - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent
- Potassium Adipate - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent
- Potassium Alginate - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener, Whipping Agent
- Potassium Benzoate - Antimicrobial Agent, Preservative
- Potassium Bicarbonate - Alkali, Leavening Agent
- Potassium Bromate - Bleaching Agent, Dough Conditioner, Maturing Agent, Oxidizing Agent
- Potassium Carbonate - Alkali
- Potassium Carbonate Solution - Alkali
- Potassium Chloride - Dietary Supplement, Gelling Agent, Nutrient, Salt Substitute, Seasoning Agent, Thickener, Yeast Food
- Potassium Citrate - Buffer, General Purpose Additive, Neutralizing Agent, Sequestrant
- Potassium Dihydrogen Citrate - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent, Sequestrant, Yeast Food
- Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent, Sequestrant
- Potassium Ferrocyanide - Anticaking Agent, Drying Agent
- Potassium Gibberellate - Enzyme Activator
- Potassium Gluconate - Dietary Supplement, Nutrient, Sequestrant, Yeast Food
- Potassium Glycerophosphate - Dietary Supplement, Nutrient
- Potassium Hydroxide - Alkali
- Potassium Iodate - Dough Conditioner, Flour Treatment Agent, Maturing Agent
- Potassium Iodide - Dietary Supplement, Nutrient
- Potassium Lactate (Solution) - Antioxidant Synergist
- Potassium Metabisulfite - Antibrowning Agent, Antimicrobial Agent, Antioxidant, Preservative
- Potassium Nitrate - Antimicrobial Agent, Color Fixative, Preservative
- Potassium Nitrite - Antimicrobial Agent, Color Fixative, Preservative
- Potassium Persulfate - Flour Treatment Agent
- Potassium Phosphate, Dibasic - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent, Sequestrant, Yeast Food
- Potassium Phosphate, Monobasic - Buffer, Neutralizing Agent, Sequestrant, Yeast Food
- Potassium Phosphate, Tribasic - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Whipping Agent
- Potassium Polymetaphosphate - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Humectant, Moisture-Retaining Agent, Whipping Agent
- Potassium Polyphosphates - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Humectant, Moisture-Retaining Agent, Sequestrant, Texture-Modifying Agent, Texturizer, Whipping Agent
- Potassium Pyrophosphate - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Texture-Modifying Agent, Texturizer, Whipping Agent
- Potassium Saccharin - Sweetening Agent
- Potassium Sodium L(+)-Tartrate - Sequestrant, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent
- Potassium Sorbate - Antimicrobial Agent, Fungistatic Agent, Preservative
- Potassium Sulfate - General Purpose Additive, Salt Substitute
- Potassium Sulfite - Antioxidant, Preservative
- Potassium Tripolyphosphate - Texture-Modifying Agent, Texturizer
- Powdered Cellulose - Anticaking Agent, Carrier, Disintegrating Agent, Dispersing Agent, Drying Agent, Formulation Aid, Tableting Aid
- Processed Eucheuma Seaweed - Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener
- Propan-1-Ol - Extraction Solvent
- Propan-2-Ol - Carrier Solvent, Extraction Solvent
- Propenylguaethol - Flavoring Agent
- Propionaldehyde - Flavoring Agent
- Propionic Acid - Antimold Agent, Antirope Agent, Flavoring Agent, Preservative
- Propyl Gallate - Antioxidant
- Propyl P-Hydroxybenzoate - Antimicrobial Agent, Preservative
- Propylene Glycol - Carrier Solvent, Humectant, Moisture-Retaining Agent, Solubilizer, Solvent, Surface-Active Agent, Vehicle, Wetting Agent
- Propylene Glycol Alginate - Defoaming Agent, Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Gelling Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Thickener, Whipping Agent
- Propylene Glycol Esters of Fatty Acids - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Whipping Agent
- Propylene Glycol Mono- and Diesters - Emulsifier, Foaming Agent, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Whipping Agent
- Propylene Oxide - Antimicrobial Agent, Preservative
- Propylparaben - Antimicrobial Agent, Preservative
- Protease (Aspergillus Niger Var.) - Enzyme
- Protease (Aspergillus Oryzae Var.) - Enzyme
- Protease (Spreptomyces Fradiae) - Enzyme
- Pullulanase (Klebsiella Aerogenes) - Enzyme
- PVP - Bodying Agent, Bulking Agent, Carrier, Clarifying Agent, Disintegrating Agent, Dispersing Agent, Formulation Aid, Stabilizer, Suspending Agent, Tableting Aid
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride - Dietary Supplement, Nutrient
- Pyrrole - Flavoring Agent
Food Additives - Names Starting with P continued
List of Additives and What They Do
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com
Index of Food Additives
Explore Chemistry
Must Reads
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 >
©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
All rights reserved.