Why is aluminum added to food? Unpacking the common uses and health concerns
                                
                                
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                                    5 min read                                
                            
                                According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aluminum compounds have been used in food processing for over a century. But why is aluminum added to food, and what roles do these compounds play in our modern food supply? These compounds are utilized for a variety of functional purposes, from improving texture and stability to acting as leavening agents and coloring agents in many common processed products.