Softeners

Softeners are additives that increase the softness of foods and keep them pliable during storage. Examples include glycerides and related humectants, which are added to hold moisture and prevent hardening. They are best known in chewing gum, where glycerin and similar softeners stop the gum base from turning brittle on the shelf, and the same principle serves confectionery and baked goods, where humectant softeners slow staling and moisture loss. They must be food-grade, used within permitted additive limits, and declared on the label, since softness retention is a functional claim that regulators treat like any other additive use.