HealthJuly 17, 2026
emulsifier
/ɪˈmʌlsɪfaɪər/
Definition
A food additive used to stabilize processed products by preventing the separation of ingredients like oil and water, thereby improving texture and shelf life.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'emulgere', meaning 'to milk out', which is also the root for 'emulsion'. It entered modern English as a technical term to describe the process of suspending one liquid within another.
In the news
Industry groups, such as the European Food Emulsifiers Manufacturers Association, defended these ingredients as essential for food stability, arguing that their presence should not automatically categorize a product as ultra-processed.
FDA and USDA face three-way fight over UPF definition
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