•Anti-caking agents ensure that products, such as salt, flow freely; •Antioxidants prevent food containing fats and oils from becoming rancid;•Artificial sweeteners are used to sweeten low-joule foods;•Bleaching agents whiten foods, such as flour;•Colours restore losses during processing and storage, and ensure a uniform colour in the finished product;•Emulsifers ensure that oil and water mixtures do not separate into layers;•Enzymes break down food, such as milk into curds and whey;•Flavour enhancers bring out the flavour of the food without imparting a flavour of their own;•Flour treatment agents improve flour performance in bread making;•Food acids maintain a constant acid level in food despite variations in the acid level of ingredients;•Humectants prevent foods from drying out;•Mineral salts enhance the texture of foods, such as processed meats, which might lose fats or juices;•Preservatives prolong the shelf-life of food;•Propellants are used in aerosol containers;•Thickeners and vegetable gums ensure constant consistency;•Vitamins make up for losses in processing and storage, and are added to certain foods to supplement dietary intake. Food additives are numbered as follows: 100-181 Colours200 – 297 Preservatives and food acids300 – 381 Antioxidants, food acids and mineral salts400 – 492 Vegetable gums, emulsifiers, some anti-caking agents, humectants, mineral salts500 – 579 More mineral salts and anti-caking agents 600 – 637 Flavour enhancers900 – 1202 Bleaching and flour treatment agents and propellants1400- 1450 Thickeners1505 – 1520 Miscellaneous additives*37\148\2*

Mild asthma is usually characterised by brief, intermittent episodes of coughing and wheezing with symptom-free, calm, periods in between. Such attacks may occur either infrequently or not more than twice a week. They seldom last more than an hour and are relatively mild. There is rarely any disruption of normal daily  activity and there is good tolerance to exercise.
Lung function tests and Peak Expiration Flow Rate (PEFR) usually decreases by 20% or less, i.e., it is 80% of the normal or the child’s personal best. In three to five year old children, PEFR tests provide a resonably accurate indication of the condition. If these children experience increasingly frequent cough and other indicators, a period of PEFR monitoring should be initiated at home to evaluate the medication and other steps being taken to control the illness.
In children below five years, lung function tests are not a reliable indicator. Therefore, indicators like cough, wheeze, disruption of normal activity, and nocturnal awakening should be carefully assessed. Disruption of activity and nocturnal awakening are not common, but if these symptoms are present, it suggests a more severe obstruction of moderate asthma.
For these children decrease in cough and dyspnoea should replace PEFR as the focus for therapeutic decisions.
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