Previously, natural substances were used as food additives, but advances in food technology resulted in their being superseded by a wide variety of chemically synthesized additives which have been in common use for some time now. From fresh to frozen, from crackers and beverages to seasonings and sauces, pretty much every edible item you see in the supermarket has some additives.
最早的食品添加物是來自天然食品，但隨著食品科技的進展，以化學方法合成的各種物質早已廣泛運用──從生鮮到冷凍、從餅乾飲品到調味醬料，超市中放眼望去，凡是能吃的，大多都有加。