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Food preservatives are ingredients added to food to prevent decomposition by reducing microbial growth. Preservatives in food help maintain its freshness and shelf life. Food preservatives are classified into two categories, viz. Class 1 preservatives or natural preservatives and Class 2 preservatives or chemical preservatives. Natural preservatives include salt, vinegar, spices, honey and syrup. Chemical preservatives include sorbates, nitrates of potassium, glycerides and benzoates. Both natural and chemical preservatives are divided into three types - antimicrobials, antioxidants and anti-enzymatic preservatives.

Food grade lubricants refer to lubricants that are used to maintain the food processing machinery, i.e. it protects the tools and machines from wear and tear. However, since many of them come into direct contact with food, these lubricants used in these machineries need to be different from the usual machine lubricants. In other words, they should not render the food unfit for consumption. With recent advances in the food processing industry, there is now much variety in the machinery used to process each food/beverage category. With growing concern over the food we eat, food processors need to comply with various regulatory frameworks like the Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP). The standards vary from country to country. However, these are internationally accepted standards which are followed by food grade lubricant manufacturers. For instance, the non-profit public health and safety company, NSF International, along with USDA, has set standards for various food grade lubricants.

The convenience foods market is driven by busy lifestyles and ageing population. It includes a range of processed foods that has longer shelf life and are easy to use. The major attributes that consumers look for in convenience foods are ease of use, packaging, nutritional value, safety, variety and product appeal. These are prepared by adding various preservatives at specific conditions and few of them need an efficient supply chain and storage to retain their properties. Convenience foods save time and energy for preparing food at home or hotels. Technology and innovative packaging options have widened the food choices that are available in the market in various categories such as frozen, chilled, packaged foods, etc.

Artificial sweeteners are synthetically produced sugar substitutes that are sweet in taste. Some of the major artificial sweeteners include aspartame, acesulfame-K, monosodium glutamate, saccharin and sodium benzoate. Second generation artificial sweeteners include sucralose and neotame. Artificial sweeteners are also called "intense sweeteners" as they are many times sweeter than the regular sugar. For instance, neotame is 8000 times sweeter than sugar. These are potential alternatives to sugar as they add virtually no calories to one's diet and help maintain low blood sugar levels. Additional advantages reflect in pricing and labelling.

Antimicrobial additives can be defined based on their production, use, benefits, function and regulation. An antimicrobial additive is a chemical compound primarily used in the form of coatings, paints and mixed with plastic. Both oil-based and water-based additives are available in various forms for end-user industries. From the commercial prospective, an antimicrobial additive is used to reduce or inhibit the growth of microorganisms in any surface or in the atmosphere (as sprays) to maintain hygiene and increase life of products. It protects various plastic products, packaging materials, buildings through coatings, hospitals and other places from decay. Some limitations of antimicrobial additives are that they are less active in fatty foods and work best in low fat food with PH less than 6. They give best results when combined with other microbial. In recent times, the market for antimicrobial agents have grown tremendously due to their numerous applications. The market is projected to grow at a healthy double-digit CAGR from 2014–2020.

Amla extract is derived from the plant species known as Emblica officinalis, and falls under the category of super fruit. Amla or Indian gooseberry is a fruit indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. Due to rise in demand for amla extract, Emblica officinalis is currently grown commercially in various regions of the world. Amla contains a high amount of salt, carbohydrates, iron, phosphorous, calcium, vitamins and amino acids. Primarily, amla extract are available in powder and pulp forms. Extract is primarily used to manufacture cosmetic products and ayurvedic medicines for cognitive effects, as anti-oxidants, in ulcer and diabetes prevention and offers anti-inflammatory benefits as well. In addition, it is also used to manufacture various beauty products and health foods. Amla is particularly effective for hair care, such as to prevent hair loss and to enhance texture.

In the past decade, medical documentation involved paper work which was difficult to maintain and time consuming as well. In order to reduce paper work and provide ease of maintenance of patient record, software were introduced. Supportive care provided in the home by means of specially designed software to monitor patients, record medication history, billing record and physicians visit records is referred as home healthcare software. With technological advancement, home healthcare software such as telehealth solutions and clinical management systems were made available in the market.

Animal Feed Additives Market Overview