Glossary of Food-Related Terms (Aa)

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.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) -

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.