The seven common additives, which have been identified by food specialists and researchers to be abundantly found in processed foods are: emulsifiers, glucose, salt, gluten, organic solvents, microbial transglutaminase, and nanoparticles.
Although processed foods are easier and quicker to digest than the unprocessed ones due to lower calories in the former, nutritionists still recommend natural fresh meals as our diets. Processing of foods may improve or preserve the nutritional values that could be lost during storage, but it may at the same time damage the nutrients too.
We all can lead healthy lifestyles and keep medical ailments at bay if the body is fed with more of unprocessed, natural or fresh foods. Consumption of highly processed foods denies the body of some vitamins and sensitive nutrients needed for proper body functioning and good health. NAFDAC has not failed this time around in bringing the attention of its citizens to the kind of food they consume in a bid to safeguard the health of the general public. The director-general of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, recently cautioned her compatriots to pay attention to what they eat. Professor Adeyeye added that processed foods are the ones killing Nigerians because most of them contain excess sugar, salt and Monosodium Glutamate.