A food additive is any substance that’s added to our food or drink. Additives are often regulated by government agencies, such as the FDA in the US or the FSA in the UK. These additives may improve flavour, texture, add freshness, maintain nutritional value, and so on. There are four main types of food additives: natural additives (taken directly from animals or plants), similar to natural (which are produced synthetically but mimic a natural compound), modified from natural additives (which are sourced naturally but modified chemically), and synthetic additives (which are completely chemically manufactured – also known as “artificial”).