title: Food additives: an ethical evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food additives are an integral part of the modern food system, but opinion polls showing most Europeans have worries about them imply an urgent need for ethical analysis of their use.
  
  
  METHODS
  The existing literature on food ethics, safety assessment and animal testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Food additives provide certain advantages in terms of many people's lifestyles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There are disagreements about the appropriate application of the precautionary principle and of the value and ethical validity of animal tests in assessing human safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most consumers have a poor understanding of the relative benefits and risks of additives, but concerns over food safety and animal testing remain high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Examining the impacts of food additives on consumer sovereignty, consumer health and on animals used in safety testing should allow a more informed debate about their appropriate uses.
authors: Centre for Applied Bioethics, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK. ben.mepham@nottingham.ac.uk
authors: Ben
authors: B
authors: Mepham
mesh_terms: D023401:Animal Use Alternatives / Q000941:ethics; D000818:Animals; D003257:Consumer Product Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D026689:Ethical Analysis; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007881:Legislation, Food / Q000941:ethics*; D011639:Public Opinion; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives