Harmful Additives in Everyday Food: What You Should Know

Reading food and nutrition labels is important for reviewing calorie content and ingredients, but how much do you really know about the additives and preservatives in your everyday snacks? The Center for Science in the Public Interest publishes an annual report on food safety and food additives, outlining the latest research and potentially harmful impact on health from the most common ingredients in everyday food. Although these aren't banned completely, many tests and research results have linked them to illness, disease, and allergies. From Stevia to BHA, here's a quick summary of harmful additives that may be toxic to your diet:

Acesulfame-K: an artificial sweetener commonly found in baked goods, chewing, gum, and soft drinks that has been used as a sugar substitute for decades. The FDA approved this chemical for soft drinks in 1998, and it continues to be a leading ingredient in many of today's addictive sugary drinks. However, animal testing showed some adverse health effects on health, including thyroid problems and even cancer.

Stevia: though health fanatics and natural' food enthusiasts have extolled the virtues of stevia, this highly potent sweetener has been rejected for use as an additive by the FDA, and is considered unacceptable for use by the European Community scientific panel. Some studies have linked stevia ingestion with infertility and poor absorption of carbohydrates.

Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Trans Fats): with the increasing bans of trans fats at restaurants and fast-food establishments, vegetable oil used in margarine and crackers is quickly losing ground as an alternative to pure fat. While it's still used in many home recipes and large chain restaurants, the FDA is reconsidering it's statement as generally recognized as safe' after petitioning and studies that suggest it is harmful to our health.

Blue #1 and Blue #2 artificial coloring: these colorings are often found in candy, pet food, and baked goods that may have an impact on brain health. Studies and research are limited for this dye, but preliminary testing on male mice suggest a link to brain tumors.

Red Dye #3: this is commonly found in preserved cherries, cherry cordials, baked goods, and candy. The ban on this dye was lifted during the Reagan Administration, but some evidence shows a link between this dye and thyroid tumors in rats. Red dye #40 is widely used today in many foods (mostly junk food), and has been considered 'safe'.

Aspartame: also known as Equal and Nutrasweet, this is a popular ingredient in many diet foods and 'sugar-free' alternatives in the mainstream market. Many studies have highlighted increased risks of cancer, leukemia, disease, and illness with excessive consumption of this ingredient. Cancer and neurological problems are just a few of the latest findings.

Butylated Hyrdoxyanisole (BHA): this can be found in many cereal brands, chewing gum, potato chips, and vegetable oil The ingredient has been deemed a human carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service but it is still used in many foods as an additive.

Cyclamate: another diet food sweetener, this is a controversial ingredient that may increase the risk of cancer indirectly.

Olestra: a popular addition to the Proctor & Gamble brands as a fat substitute, this synthetic fat is not absorbed by the body and moves through the intestinal tract completely unabsorbed instead. Potato chips and crackers made with Olean contain indigestible fat that may also lead to lower absorption of important nutrients such as lycopene and lutein.

Reading food labels is the first step in making smarter decisions for your diet. The Center for Science in Public Interest outlines a variety of safety tips, outbreak alerts, and food additive information on the latest food trends; just look up any additive for the most recent findings and reports.