Glossary of Food-Related Terms (Aa)
Acceptable daily intake (ADI) -
The amount of chemical that if ingested daily over a
lifetime appears to be without appreciable effect.
Acesulfame K -
Acesulfame K or acesulfame potassium is a low-calorie
sweetener approved for use in the United States in 1988. It is an organic salt
consisting of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, sulphur and potassium atoms.
It is 200 times sweeter than sucrose, has a synergistic sweetening effect with
other sweeteners, has a stable shelf-life & is heat stable. It is excreted
through the human digestive system unchanged and is therefore non-caloric.
Additives (Food additives) -
Any natural or synthetic material other than the basic raw
ingredients used in the production of a food item to enhance the final product.
Any substance that may affect the characteristics of any food including, those
used in the production, processing, treatment, packaging, transportation or
storage of food.
Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS) -
A system operated by FDA which monitors and investigates
all complaints by individuals or their physicians that are believed to be
related to a specific food, food and color additives or vitamin and mineral
supplements. The ARMS computerized database helps officials decide whether
reported adverse reactions represent a real public health risk associated with
food so that appropriate action can be taken.
Aerobic exercise -
Aerobic exercise refers to the kind of fast-paced activity
that makes you "huff and puff." It places demands on your
cardiovascular apparatus and produces beneficial changes in your respiratory
and circulatory systems.
Agrochemicals -
Term for artificially produced chemicals (such as feed
additives, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers or pesticides) used in agriculture to
improve crops or livestock production.
Algin -
A compound which is extracted from algae and used in
puddings, milk shakes and ice cream to make these foods creamier and thicker
and to extend shelf life.
Alitame -
A sweetener made from amino acids (L-aspartic acid,
D-alanine, and a novel amide [a specific arrangement of chemical bonds between
carbon, nitrogen and oxygen]). It offers a taste that is 2000 times sweeter
than that of sucrose and can be used in a wide variety of products including
beverages, tabletop sweeteners, frozen desserts and baked goods. Only the
aspartic acid component of alitame is metabolized by the body. As a result,
alitame contains 1.4 Kcal/ g. Since alitame is such an intense sweetener
however it is used at very low levels and thus contributes negligible amounts
of calories. It is highly stable, can withstand high temperatures in cooking
and baking and has the potential to be used in almost all foods and beverages
in which sweeteners are presently used. FDA is currently considering a petition
to approve its use in the United States food supply. Alitame has been approved
for use in all food and beverage products in Australia, Mexico and New Zealand.
Allergen (food allergen) -
A food allergen is the part of a food (a protein) that
stimulates the immune system of food allergic individuals. A single food can
contain multiple food allergens. Carbohydrates or fats are not allergens.
Allergy (Food allergy) -
A food allergy is any adverse reaction to an otherwise
harmless food or food component (a protein) that involves the body's immune
system. To avoid confusion with other types of adverse reactions to foods, it
is important to use the terms "food allergy" or "food hypersensitivity"
only when the immune system is involved in causing the reaction.
Ally methyl trisulfide, dithiolthiones -
A type of sulfide/ thiol found in cruciferous vegetables
which may provide the health benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol and of
maintaining a healthy immune system.
Alpha-carotene -
A type of carotenoid found in carrots which provides the
health benefit of neutralizing free radicals that may cause damage to cells.
Alternative agriculture -
A range of technological and management option farms striving
to reduce costs, protect health and environmental quality, and enhance
beneficial biological interactions and natural processes. Alternative
agriculture techniques cannot be uniformly applied across all commodities or
all regions of the country. Such practices typically require more information,
trained labor, time and management skills per unit of production than
conventional farming.
Alzheimer's disease -
This disease causes progressive memory loss and dementia in
its victims as it kills brain cells (neurons). It is named after Alois
Alzheimer who in 1906 first described the Amyloid β Protein (AβP) plaques in
the human brain that are caused by this disease. The drug Tacrine appears to
slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, but there is currently no way to
stop the disease.
Amino acids -
Amino acids function as the building blocks of proteins.
Chemically, amino acids are organic compounds containing an amino (NH2) group
and a carboxyl (COOH) group. Amino acids are classified as essential, nonessential
and conditionally essential. If body synthesis is inadequate to meet metabolic
need, an amino acid is classified as essential and must be supplied as part of
the diet. Essential amino acids include leucine, isoleucine, valine,
tryptophan, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, lysine, histidine and
possibly arginine. Nonessential amino acids can be synthesized by the body in
adequate amounts, and include alanine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic
acid, glutamine, glycine, proline and serine. Conditionally essential amino
acids become essential under certain clinical conditions.
Anabolism -
The phase of metabolism in which simple substances are
synthesized into complex materials of living tissue.
Anaphylaxis -
A rare but potentially fatal condition in which several
different parts of the body experience food-allergic reactions simultaneously,
causing hives, swelling of the throat and difficulty breathing. It is the most
severe allergic reaction to an allergen and requires immediate medical attention
when it occurs.
Anemia -
Anemia is a condition in which a deficiency in the size or
number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) or the amount of hemoglobin they
contain limits the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and
the tissue cells. Most anemias are caused by a lack of nutrients required for
normal erythrocyte synthesis, principally iron, vitamin B-12, and folic acid.
Others result from a variety of conditions, such as hemorrhage, genetic
abnormalities, chronic disease states or drug toxicity.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) -
A government agency which resides in the United States
Department of Agriculture and governs the field-testing of agricultural
biotechnology crops.
Anorexia Nervosa -
An eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a
minimally normal weight for height and age.
Anthocyanidins -
A type of flavonoid found in various fruits which provides
the health benefits of neutralizing free radicals and possibly reducing the
risk of cancer.
Antibiotic resistance -
The ability of a bacterium to synthesize a protein that
neutralizes an antibiotic.
Antibiotics -
Antibiotics are used in animal agriculture for two reasons.
First, to improve the rate of growth and the feed efficiency of animals so they
produce more meat or milk on less feed. The second reason is to prevent and
treat diseases, just as in humans.
Antibody -
Protein produced by the immune system of humans and higher
animals in response to the presence of a specific antigen.
Anticarcinogens -
Substances which inhibit the formation of cancers or the
growth of tumors. More than 600 chemicals are claimed to be anti-cancer agents.
These range from natural chemical constituent present in garlic, broccoli,
cabbage and green tea to manmade antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxyanisole
(BHA) and derivatives of retinoic acid.
Antigen -
A foreign substance (almost always a protein) that stimulates
an immune response when introduced into the body.
Antioxidant -
Antioxidants protect key cell components by neutralizing
the damaging effects of "free radicals". Free radicals form when
oxygen is metabolized or burned by the body. They travel through cells & disrupting
the structure of other molecules & causing cellular damage. Such cell
damage is believed to contribute to aging and various health problems.
Antisense -
A piece of DNA that produces the mirror image or antisense
messenger RNA that is exactly opposite in sequence to one that directs the
cells to produce a specific protein. Since the antisense RNA binds tightly to
its image & it prevents the protein from being made.
Ascorbic acid -
Also known as vitamin C. It is essential for the
development and maintenance of connective tissue. Vitamin C speeds the
production of new cells in wound healing and it is an antioxidant that keeps
free radicals from hooking up with other molecules to form damaging compounds
that might attack tissue. Vitamin C protects the immune system, helps fight off
infections, reduces the severity of allergic reactions and plays a role in the
synthesis of hormones and other body chemicals. Green peppers, broccoli, citrus
fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, and other fresh fruits and vegetables are good
sources of vitamin C.
Aspartame -
Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener used in a variety of
foods and beverages and as a tabletop sweetener. It is about 200 times sweeter
than sugar. Aspartame is made by joining two protein components, aspartic acid
and phenylalanine.
Asthma -
Asthma is a chronic medical condition & affecting
approximately 10 million Americans (3 to 4 percent of the population). Asthma
results when irritants (or trigger substances) cause swelling of the tissues in
the air passage of the lungs & making it difficult to breathe. Typical
symptoms of asthma include wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing.
Atherosclerosis -
A condition that exists when too much cholesterol builds up
in the blood and accumulates in the walls of the blood vessels.
Commonly called "hyperactivity," Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a clinical diagnosis based on specific
criteria. These include excessive motor activity, impulsiveness, short
attention span, low tolerance to frustration and onset before 7 years of age.
Avian influenza -
Avian
influenza is a disease most commonly found among poultry. The virus is found in
bird droppings, nasal secretions and saliva of infected birds. Poultry workers
in unsanitary conditions can become infected with avian influenza by inhaling
the virus from infected birds or transplanting the virus from contaminated
hands to mouth. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), proper
handling and cooking provides protection against avian influenza and other
viruses and bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli.