9 ammonium alginate
amylase alpha amylase noun an enzyme present in wheat seed, which changes some starch to
sugar. Excessive amounts can result in loaves of bread with sticky texture.
alphafoetoprotein noun a blood protein produced in the liver, yolk sac and gastrointestinal
tract of a foetus, used as an indicator of cancer and other diseases in adults
linolenic acid alpha-linolenic acid noun a fatty acid found in high proportion in walnut oil, soya oil
and the leaf vegetable purslane (NOTE: It is said to be the reason why Cretans and Japanese
have a low incidence of heart attacks.)
lipoic acid alpha-lipoic acid noun a sports supplement that maintains insulin sensitivity. Abbreviation
ALA
alphatocopherol noun same as vitamin E
scurvy Alpine scurvy noun same as pellagra
aluminium noun a metallic element extracted from the ore bauxite. Symbol Al
calcium silicate aluminium calcium silicate noun  E556
foil aluminium foil noun very thin, flexible aluminium used for wrapping for food and for
cooking. Also called cooking foil, tin foil
sodium silicate aluminium sodium silicate noun  E554
alveograph noun an instrument that uses a jet of air to measure the strength of dough prior
to baking (NOTE: It works by injecting air into the dough at a fixed depth and flow rate
and recording the pressure at which the resulting bubble bursts.)
disease Alzheimer’s disease noun a disease in which a person experiences progressive
dementia owing to nerve cell loss in specific brain areas, resulting in loss of mental faculties
including memory
amaranth noun 1. a plant grown for ornament and sometimes as a grain crop or leafy
vegetable 2.  E123
amaretti plural noun small crisp Italian biscuits flavoured with almonds
temperature ambient temperature noun the temperature of the air in which you live or work
yoghurt ambient yoghurt noun yoghurt that may be stored at room temperature, without chilling
Association of Analytical Chemists American Association of Analytical Chemists noun an association for scientists
who analyse the compositions of foodstuffs, beverages and drugs. Abbreviation AOAC
service American service noun a method of serving food in a restaurant by dividing it among
individual plates in the kitchen rather than serving it from a platter at the table
Society for Nutrition American Society for Nutrition noun a professional research body that publishes a
monthly journal on nutrition. Abbreviation ASN
test Ames test noun a test of the capacity of a food additive to cause genetic mutation
amine noun any organic derivative of ammonia in which one or more hydrogen atoms is
replaced with an alkyl group
acid amino acid noun a chemical compound that is broken down from proteins in the digestive
system and then used by the body to form its own protein.  essential amino acids
aminoaciduria noun the presence of abnormal levels of an amino acid in the urine
aminogram noun a diagram of the composition of an amino acid
group amino group noun a group of substances that consists of amino acids and amines
aminopeptidase noun an enzyme that removes amino acids from a peptide or protein
ammonia noun a strong-smelling gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen and is
used to make artificial fertilisers, or in liquid form as a refrigerant. Symbol NH3
alginate ammonium alginate noun a food additive used as an emulsifier, thickener and stabiliser