CSPI Goes Mobile With Chemical Cuisine App

WASHINGTONFood additive facts are now available at the fingertips of iPhone and Android owners. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) announced the launch of the Chemical Cuisine app, a searchable list of some 130 food additives, including descriptions and safety ratings, as researched by CSPI executive director Michael Jacobson. Every time the user starts up the app, a randomly selected additive pops up. CSPI acknowledged in a press release that most food additives are relatively safe in the amounts they are used," but notes that some additives have been flagged as being best avoided.

"Shopping for groceries was a lot easier when more food came from farms, and not factories," said Jacobson. "And the tens of thousands of packaged foods on supermarket shelves have a bewildering array of chemical food additives, designed to variously enhance the taste, texture, color, or shelf life of the product. We decided to make life a little easier for those who want to satisfy your curiosity about some of the most commonly used food additives from the convenience of your mobile device."