Ingredient

This article is about ingredients in general. For the documentary film, see Ingredients (film). For other uses, see The Main Ingredient (disambiguation).

In a general sense, an ingredient is a substance which forms part of a mixture. In cooking, recipes specify which ingredients are used to prepare a dish, and the term may also refer to a specific food item in relation to its use in different recipes. Many commercial products contain secret ingredients purported to make them better than competing products. In the pharmaceutical industry, an active ingredient is the ingredient in a formulation which invokes biological activity.

Ingredients for short rib soup

The ingredient list on a can of marrowfat peas. Besides peas, the product also contains water, salt, and the antioxidant E385

National laws usually require prepared food products to display a list of ingredients and specifically require that certain additives be listed. Law typically requires that ingredients be listed according to their relative weight within the product.

Etymology

From Middle French ingredient, from Latin ingredientem, present participle of ingredior ('to go or enter into or onto').

Artificial ingredient

An artificial ingredient usually refers to an ingredient which is artificial or human-made, such as:

• Artificial flavour
• Food additive
• Food colouring
• Preservative
• Sugar substitute, artificial sweetener

See also

• Fake food
• Bill of materials
• Software Bill of Materials
• Active ingredient
• Secret ingredient