are non-nutritional substance added directly or indirectly to food during processing or packaging. Petroleum food additives are usually refined waxes or white oils that meet applicable FDA standards. Applications include direct additives, such as coatings for fresh fruits and vegetables, and indirect additives, such as impregnating oils for fruit and vegetable wrappers, dough divider oils, defoamers for yeast and beet sugar manufacture, release and polishing agents in confectionery manufacture, and rust preventives for meat processing equipment.

Also see H-1/H-2 lubricants.