aditif

An aditif, often rendered as additive in English, is a substance intentionally introduced into a material to impart a specific property or improve performance, rather than to become the primary component. Additives are used across many sectors to modify characteristics such as flavor, color, texture, stability, safety, processing ease, or durability.

In foods, additives include sweeteners, colorants, emulsifiers, stabilizers, antioxidants, preservatives, and flavor enhancers. They are evaluated for safety and permitted at defined usage levels by regulatory authorities. Labeling schemes, such as numerical codes in various jurisdictions, help consumers identify additives in products.

In fuels, lubricants, polymers, and construction materials, additives serve different roles. They can improve combustion efficiency, prevent corrosion, reduce deposits, or enhance cold-flow properties in fuels; act as stabilizers, plasticizers, or flame retardants in plastics; and influence curing, workability, or durability in construction materials and coatings.

In cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, additives function as excipients, stabilizers, preservatives, stabilizing agents, or formulation aids that ensure product performance, safety, and shelf life.

Regulation and safety considerations are central to the use of additives. Authorities such as food and drug agencies assess toxicity, exposure levels, and cumulative risk, sometimes using an acceptable daily intake (ADI) framework. The distinction between additives and processing aids exists: processing aids may not appear in the final product in meaningful amounts and are often regulated separately. Ongoing research and labeling trends influence which additives are approved and how they are perceived by consumers.