Food Additives: Friends or Foes?

by ]]>Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD]]> and ]]>Rebecca J. Stahl, MA]]>

Image for food additive article Food additives are often vilified in the press. They have been linked with allergies, behavior problems, and an increased risk of cancer. This has led many people to attempt to avoid them and seek additive-free food when possible. But do food additives really deserve all this bad press?

What Are Food Additives?

Direct additives are added directly to the food during its preparation. Indirect additives are substances that may slowly leach into the food from the packaging.

Examples of Food Additives
Salt	Sugar	Gums
Vinegar	Minerals	Flavorings
Vitamins	Variety of chemicals	High fructose corn syrup
Synthetic and natural colorings	Baking powder and soda	Hydrogenated vegetable oil

Why Are These Added to Foods?

Food additives serve a wide variety of purposes, such as:

Providing flavoring and/or sweetness
Preserving foods
Slowing spoilage
Leavening baked goods
Preventing fats from separating
Preventing caking of powdered or granulated substances
Increasing the food’s nutritional value
Preventing fresh fruits from turning brown
Sharpening flavors or colors
Controlling the acidity or alkalinity of foods

So Food Additives Are Not All Bad?

No. Food additives are not all bad. The use of these additives can improve food safety and flavor, help make food quality more consistent, and add nutritional value.

Are Some People Sensitive or Allergic to Food Additives?

Yes. Some people are sensitive, or even allergic to certain food additives. Some may notice stomach upset, headaches, ]]>hives]]>, runny nose, sneezing, or wheezing after exposure to a particular additive. In the worst case scenario, a person may have an ]]>anaphylactic reaction]]> to an additive. Anaphylactic reactions usually include swelling, itching, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. It can develop rapidly and be life-threatening.

Are Some Food Additives Worse Than Others?

Yes. Some additives should be avoided. Others need only to be limited by most people. The following table outlines some of the claimed risks and side effects of these common food additives. It is important to note that many of these issues are controversial. Some problems are not widely accepted by the scientific community. The recommendations below are from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Also listed is information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Name of Additive	Foods It Is Found In	Possible Risk	Recommendation From CSPI	FDA information
Acesulfame K(artificial sweetener)	Packets or tablets, beverage mixes, coffee or tea beverages, desserts (gelatins, puddings)	Artificial sweeteners, like acesulfame K, have been linked to cancer in rats.	Avoid	There is not enough evidence to conclude that artificial sweeteners are unsafe.
Artificial colorings	Numerous	While this is very controversial, some dyes are suspected of being cancer-causing.	Avoid Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, Red 3, Yellow 5, Yellow 6	The FDA has a list of approved dyes. Yellow 5 can cause ]]>hives]]> in a very small amount of people.
Aspartame (artificial sweetener)	Packets or tablets, beverage mixes, coffee or tea beverages, desserts (gelatins, puddings), yogurts, a myriad of “sugar-free” products	Like other artificial sweeteners, this has been linked to cancer in rats.	Avoid	People with ]]>phenylketonuria]]> (PKU) should avoid sweeteners with aspartame.
BHA/BHT (preservative)	Added to foods that contain oil to prevent them from oxidizing and becoming rancid	These additives have also been linked to cancer in rats.	Avoid	BHA and BHT are approved for use in food. But, there are limits set as to how much can be used in the food product.
Monosodium glutamate or MSG (flavor enhancer)	Often added to certain seasonings, especially in Chinese food, in order to boost the overall flavor	This is another controversial issue. MSG may cause ]]>migraines]]> , chest tightness, wheezing, ]]>asthma]]> attacks in certain people.	Avoid if sensitive	MSG is a considered "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS), but the additive must be clearly labeled on the product.
Nitrites and nitrates (meat preservatives)	Processed meats	There are claims that these preservatives increase the risk of certain cancers, including ]]>stomach cancer]]>.	Avoid	Nitrites and nitrates are also recognized as safe.
Olestra (synthetic fat replacement)	Potato chips, snack foods	Olestra can affect the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea and loss of important fat-soluble vitamins.	Avoid	FDA has approved this fat substitute.
Potassium bromate	Bread products	This additive may increase the risk of cancer.	Avoid	The FDA has not banned this additive, but it is not used as often anymore.
Saccharine (artificial sweetener)	Packets, diet beverages	This artificial sweetener has also been linked to cancer in rats.	Avoid	There is not enough evidence to conclude that artificial sweeteners are unsafe.
Sulfites	Dried fruits, shrimp, wine	Sulfites may cause asthma attacks or even anaphylactic shock in vulnerable people.	Avoid if sensitive	Sulfites can be used in products, but they must be listed on the label.
Sucralose (artificial sweetener)	Baked goods, frozen desserts, ice cream, soft drinks	None	Okay	This sweetener is approved by the FDA.

So What Can I Do to Keep Myself and My Family Safe?

It is unrealistic, and unnecessary, to avoid all food additives. However, do your best to avoid or cut back on the worst offenders listed above. A good rule is to choose the least processed foods. For example:

Water instead of diet soda
A whole banana instead of fruit snack bar
Old fashioned oatmeal instead of a sweetened oat cereal

Here are some suggestions for limiting your intake of food additives:

Extra additives like dyes can be avoided. If your food is not a color found in nature, you might want to consider avoiding it.
Limit your intake of processed snack foods like chips and cookies. They can be heavy in salt, sugar, food coloring, and preservatives, and low on nutrition.
Be aware of which processed meats are likely to contain nitrites and nitrates.
Scan the list of ingredients before choosing a food, and if it contains too many unfamiliar ingredients, pass on it.

RESOURCES:

Center for Science in the Public Interest
http://www.cspinet.org/index.html/

Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Council on Food and Nutrition
http://www.ccfn.ca/

Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

References

Centers for Science in the Public Interest. Chemical cuisine. Center for Science in the Public Interest website. Available at: http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm. Accessed August 19, 2010.

Centers for Science in the Public Interest. The facts about olestra. Centers for Science in the Public Interest website. Available at: http://www.cspinet.org/olestra/11cons.html. Accessed August 19, 2010.

Centers for Science in the Public Interest. Potassium bromate termed a cancer threat. Center for Science in the Public Interest website. Available at: http://www.cspinet.org/new/bromate.html. Published July 19, 1999. Accessed October 4, 2010.

Clinical and diagnostic approaches to adverse reactions to food and drug additives: commonly reported additives causing adverse reactions. In: Adkinson NF, Busse W, Holgate S, Middleton E, Yunginger JW, Bochner BS, eds. Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practices. 5th ed. Mosby-Year Book, Inc.; 1998. 1183-1186.

US Food and Drug Administration. Color additives fact sheet. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/col-toc.html . Accessed March 16, 2008.

ExtoxNet FAQS. What is the evidence for a link between preservatives and cancer and other toxic effects? ExtoxNet FAQS website. Available at: http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/additive/preserca.htm#BHA. Accessed August 19, 2010.

Food additives. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/foodaddi.html . Accessed October 8, 2003.

Food additives to avoid. Center for Science in the Public Interest website. Available at: http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm. Accessed November 2, 2008.

Lecos C. Sulfites; FDA limits use, broadens labeling—Food and Drug Administration. BNET website. Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1370/is_v20/ai_4473544/. Accessed October 4, 2010.

Mayo Clinic. Monosodium glutamate (MSG): is it harmful? Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251. Updated July 8, 2010. Accessed August 19, 2010.

US Food and Drug Administration. Food ingredients and colors. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm094211.htm. Updated April 2010. Accessed August 19, 2010.

US Food and Drug Administration. Listing of food additive status part I: BHA/BHT. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/FoodAdditives/FoodAdditiveListings/ucm091048.htm. Accessed October 4, 2010.

Last reviewed October 2010 by ]]>Brian Randall, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.