Table 2. Recognition of subjects regarding food additives

Subjects (n=2,000)	Option	Chosen percentage (%)
Important considerations when purchasing food	Manufacturing date/expiration date/sell-by-date	24.2
	Place of origin	16.6
	Brand/trademark/manufacturer	15.4
	Nutritional information	15.1
	Capacity/volume	11.9
	Food additives	10.3
	Functionality/food benefits	5.9
	Others	0.6
Concerns when purchasing food	Sugar/salt	25.4
	Food additives	19.5
	Endocrine-disrupting chemicals	17.0
	Calories	16.3
	Genetically modified foods	11.8
	Fat	9.9
	Others	0.3
Concerns about food additives	Concerns about diseases	59.5
	Artificial taste and aroma	15.6
	Concerns about non-edible food additive usage	14.4
	Addiction	10.5
Food additives in processed foods that I’m familiar with	Sweetener	18.1
	Preservative	15.5
	Food coloring	15.1
	Flavor enhancer	15.0
	Antioxidant	14.3
	Color retention agent	13.2
	Acidity regulator	8.6
	None	0.3
Permissible food additives	Sweetener	22.3
	Flavor enhancer	18.7
	Preservative	18.5
	Antioxidant	16.1
	Acidity regulator	9.0
	Food coloring	8.2
	Color retention agent	7.0
	None	0.1
Intention to purchase processed foods with minimal food additives	Yes	68.9
	No	7.4