Food additives are substances that are added to food products during processing or preparation to enhance their flavor, appearance, texture, or shelf life. These substances can include natural or synthetic ingredients and are regulated by food safety authorities to ensure they are safe for consumption.Food additives can serve various functions, such as preserving freshness, improving taste, enhancing color, stabilizing texture, or extending shelf life. Some common food additives include preservatives, flavor enhancers, sweeteners, coloring agents, emulsifiers, and antioxidants.