Many Processed Foods and Ready-Made Meals Contain Preservatives and Chemicals – IELTS Writing Task 2

Many processed foods and ready-made meals contain preservatives and chemicals. What are the advantages to this? Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Outline

Essay Type

Advantage and disadvantage essay

Introduction

Explain the advantages and disadvantages clearly in one or two lines. Explain in brief what you are going to write in the body paragraphs.

The majority of ready-to-eat meals and processed foods include a significant quantity of preservatives and chemicals.

Body

Paragraph 1: Preservatives are used in almost all processed foods to extend vitality and freshness to the product and protect from bacteria.

Paragraph 2: One concern is that these substances have a long-term deteriorating effect on one’s health.

Conclusion

Summarise the advantages and disadvantages.

Sample Essay

Advancements in the field of food technology have led to the creation of many methods for the preservation of food. However, it has been observed that the majority of ready-to-eat meals and processed foods include a significant quantity of preservatives and chemicals. Though this approach has many advantages, I feel the disadvantages outweigh them. In the forthcoming paragraphs, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the issue and explain why I believe in the latter.

Indeed, there are some obvious advantages to putting these chemicals in food. The first is that it aids in the extension of a product’s shelf life. Owing to the fact that food has a limited shelf life and is therefore readily perishable, these compounds are added by the makers. In addition, preservatives are used in almost all processed foods to extend vitality and freshness to the product and protect from bacteria. Another benefit is that it improves the food’s taste and flavour. These chemicals make food taste better, and as a result, businesses benefit handsomely.

However, this trend has some significant disadvantages. One concern is that these substances have a long-term deteriorating effect on one’s health. This is because they can cause significant health problems such as heart disease, cancer and weaken the central nervous system. Another drawback is that these compounds are naturally addicting. This encourages people to eat certain foods frequently, increasing their risk of developing serious irreversible health problems.

To sum up, adding preservatives to food can help extend its shelf life and improve the taste of a meal. However, consuming these foods for an extended period can have a devastating impact on the body, resulting in a variety of health concerns.

Vocabulary

• Aid

Meaning: (noun) help, typically of a practical nature.
Eg: People from the drought prone areas requested further aid.

• Perishable

Meaning: (adjective) (especially of food) likely to decay or go bad quickly.
Eg: One should store perishable items in cool places.

• Vitality

Meaning: (noun) the state of being strong and active; energy.
Eg: Athletes are admired for their sheer vitality.

• Compounds

Meaning: (noun) a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture.
Eg: Bread is a compound of flour and water.

• Devastating

Meaning: (adjective) highly destructive or damaging.
Eg: It was the most devastating dust storm in 10 years.

• Deteriorating

Meaning: (adjective) becoming progressively worse.
Eg: The doctor said that Yami’s health is deteriorating.

• Owing

Meaning: (adjective) due to
Eg: Owing to failing health, he moved from Paris to Pennsylvania.

• Handsomely

Meaning: (adverb) to a large or generous degree; substantially.
Eg: Anyone who helps the police to trace the location of a thief is handsomely rewarded.

• Irreversible

Meaning: (adjective) not able to be undone or altered.
Eg: Burning of fossil fuels causes irreversible damage to the environment.

• Extended

Meaning: (adjective) lasting longer than is usual or expected; prolonged.
Eg: The teacher extended the deadline for submission of a research paper by 5 days.

More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics

• Interviews Form the Basic Selection Criteria for Most Large Companies
• With Increasing Populations and Ever Growing Urban Centers Many Countries are Losing Their Natural Beauty Spots
• Advertising Encourages Consumers to Buy in Quantity Rather Than Promoting Quality
• Some People Believe that Allowing Children to Make their Own Choices on Everyday Matters