Food Additives

page 2 of 3 | PREV 1 | 2 | 3  NEXT 

Aspartame, Saccharin and Acesulfame-K

Not only does saccharin cause bladder cancer in male rats; it may also lead to cancer in female rats and mice. The German-made sweetener acesulfame-K has been linked to cancer and other ailments in lab animals. Aspartame, known as NutraSweet, Equal and Spoonful, accounts for 75 percent of adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA, and it has been linked to cancer in rats.

Sucralose

Splenda is the trade name of the patented sweetener sucralose, which is marketed solely around the world by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary McNeil Nutritionals. It is very low in calories and is showing up in soft drinks, baked goods, sweetener packets and other items. Lawsuits have been filed against Splenda's makers by the sugar industry, which objects to what it considers misleading advertising about sucralose's natural provenance, arguing that it is a chlorinated artificial sweetener.

After reviewing the available research, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) concluded that Splenda appears safe for consumption. But Whole Foods banned it from its stores on the basis that there aren't enough studies to prove that it is safe and that it requires industrial processing.

Trans Fats (trans fatty acids)

Trans fats are formed when liquid oils are made into solid fats through hydrogenation, and they can appear in shortening, margarine, crackers, cookies, candy, fried foods and other processed foods. It is now well established that trans fats raise levels of low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease. The USDA recommends keeping trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible. The FDA now requires listing amounts of trans fat greater than 1/2 gram per serving on food labels.

Artificial Colorings

CSPI recommends that consumers avoid foods with artificial colors. Many of these additives have not been fully tested for health effects, some have been tentatively linked to cancers, and others are known to cause hyperactivity in some children. CSPI considers Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3 and Yellow 6 the most risky.

Potassium Bromate

Used in some commercial breadmaking, potassium bromate may leave traces of bromate itself (a known animal carcinogen) in foods and is banned in many countries.