ADULTERANTS AND ADDITIVES - Adulterants are added to pure substances to extend the quantity while reducing the quality. An adulterant is a chemical which acts as a contaminant when combined with other substances. When water is added to alcohol, the water is an adulterant. In the food and drug industry, many more examples of adulterants may be found. Melamine has been added to milk and other protein-containing foods to boost crude protein content, often at risk of sickness or death. High fructose corn syrup is added to adulterate honey. An additive is an ingredient added to a product for a specific purpose (not to reduce quality). In some cases, it's difficult to tell an additive and adulterant apart. For example, chicory was first added to coffee to extend it (an adulterant), but now may be added to impart a special flavor (an additive). Chalk may be added to bread flour to reduce its cost (an adulterant), but it is often used as an additive for making bread because it increases calcium content and whiteness. Usually an additive is listed as an ingredient, while an adulterant is not.

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Adulterants And Additives

What Is an Adulterant?

Purpose and Examples

By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

An adulterant is a chemical which acts as a contaminant when combined with other substances.

Adulterants are added to pure substances to extend the quantity while reducing the quality.

Examples of Adulterants

When water is added to alcohol, the water is an adulterant.

In the food and drug industry, many more examples of adulterants may be found.

When cutting agents are added to drugs to reduce their expense, the added substances are considered to be adulterants.

Melamine has been added to milk and other protein-containing foods to boost crude protein content, often at risk of sickness or death.

High fructose corn syrup is added to adulterate honey.

Injecting water or brine into meat increases its weight and is an adulterant.

Diethylene glycol is a dangerous additive found in some sweet wines.

Adulterant vs Additive

An additive is an ingredient added to a product for a specific purpose (not to reduce quality).

In some cases, it's difficult to tell an additive and adulterant apart.

For example, chicory was first added to coffee to extend it (an adulterant), but now may be added to impart a special flavor (an additive).

Chalk may be added to bread flour to reduce its cost (an adulterant), but it is often used as an additive for making bread because it increases calcium content and whiteness.

Usually an additive is listed as an ingredient, while an adulterant is not.

There are exceptions. For example, adding water to meat to increase its weight (and thus manufacturer profit) is listed on the label, yet confers no benefit to the consumer.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Chemistry Expert

Education

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College

Introduction

Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Science educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

ThoughtCo and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.

Widely-published graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other illustrations used in science.

Experience

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse scientific literature for the Department of Energy.

In addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor.

Education

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.

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https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-adulterant-604748