Which of the following is a NON-nutritive component of diet? (a) Calcium (b) Sodium benzoate (c) Linoleic acid

Concept understanding — Non Nutritive Additives

Imagine you are buying a packet of chips. You check the ingredients list and see names like "sodium benzoate" or "sunset yellow." These are not things your body uses for energy or growth — they are not nutrients. Yet they are added deliberately. That is the core idea: non-nutritive additives are substances added to food that serve a purpose other than providing nutrition.

In everyday life, we add salt to preserve meat, or lemon juice to stop an apple from browning. Food manufacturers do the same on a large scale, but with a much wider range of approved chemicals. The precise meaning is this: any substance intentionally added to a food product that does not contribute calories, vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients in any meaningful amount. Their job is to preserve, colour, flavour, or improve the texture of the food.

Why does this matter? Because these additives are strictly regulated. A commerce or humanities student should understand that the food industry relies on them to make products safe, consistent, and appealing over long supply chains. Without preservatives, bread would mould in days. Without emulsifiers, salad dressing would separate into oil and water. Without colours, candies would look unappetising grey.

Note

Non-nutritive additives are not the same as "artificial" or "synthetic." Some, like citric acid (from citrus fruits) or lecithin (from soybeans), occur naturally. The key is that they are added and they do not nourish.

Here are the main categories you will encounter:

Preservatives — prevent spoilage by microbes (e.g., sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate)
Colours — restore or enhance appearance (e.g., tartrazine, caramel colour)
Flavour enhancers — boost existing taste without adding a flavour of their own (e.g., monosodium glutamate)
Sweeteners — provide sweetness without sugar calories (e.g., aspartame, saccharin)
Emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickeners — improve texture and consistency (e.g., guar gum, xanthan gum)
Antioxidants — stop fats and oils from going rancid (e.g., BHA, BHT, vitamin E) …

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Non-nutritive components of diet are substances that provide no energy or essential nutrients — among the options, only sodium benzoate fits this description.

The question tests your understanding of what "nutritive" means in the context of food. A nutritive component is one that the body can use for energy, growth, or repair — things like carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Non-nutritive components, by contrast, serve other purposes: they may be additives, preservatives, colourings, or flavourings that contribute zero calories and no essential nutrients.

Let's examine each option.

Calcium — This is a mineral, and an essential one at that. Your body needs calcium for bone health, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood clotting. It is definitely a nutrient, so it is nutritive.
Sodium benzoate — This is a common food preservative, added to prevent microbial growth in acidic foods like pickles, sauces, and soft drinks. It provides no energy, no vitamins, no minerals — nothing the body uses as a nutrient. It is a classic example of a non-nutritive additive.
Linoleic acid — This is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. It is an essential fatty acid, meaning the body cannot synthesise it and must get it from food. It is used to build cell membranes and produce signalling molecules. It is definitely a nutrient, hence nutritive.
Lactose — This is a disaccharide sugar found in milk. It is a carbohydrate, and carbohydrates are a major source of energy. The body breaks lactose down into glucose and galactose, which are used for fuel. It is nutritive. …

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Q.Which of the following is a NON-nutritive component of diet?

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