Thus, the genesis of the food additive. These additives include artificial colors, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners, all designed to boost the taste, longevity, wholesomeness and shelf life of many of the products found in our grocery stores.
Some accuse food additives of causing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, cancer, heart disease and obesity. There are certain additives that are fine in one country, but banned in another. The European Union requires that foods containing certain additives bear a warning that the product "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children."
But even among the scientific research community, there is no consensus on whether certain products are harmful or harmless. Which is why they continue to be sold.
One thing is certain - food additives are controversial, and there will always be people lined up on either side of the argument when it comes to whether they should be present in our foods or not. Most nutritionists agree that the best overall diet is one that focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, while limiting processed foods. But for the sake of time, money and convenience, many Americans can't quite live up to the ideal diet, making it necessary to consume foods that are chock full of additives.
ALARMS ARE RAISED
While there isn't a clear consensus on some additives, others have received a resounding thumbs downs from nutrition experts when it comes to picking your “poison.” Here are a few additives that have raised the red flag time and time again.
1. Partially Hydrogenated Oil - This generates trans fat, which is twice as difficult for the body to dissolve as saturated fats. It is added to food to stabilize flavor, increase shelf life and reduce costs. But it also decreases good cholesterol, boosts bad cholesterol, and has been implicated in everything from increased risk of heart disease to the onset of diabetes. Partially hydrogenated oil is found in margarine, cookies, baked goods, salad dressing, breads and chips, among other foods.
2. Artificial Sweeteners - This is a sector that has raised the alarm for a long time. Whether it is sucralose (known commercially as Splenda) or saccharin (sold commercially as Sweet 'N Low), aspartame (Equal) or others, there are debates about the safety of each one. Some of the sweeteners that were once considered safe were later suspected of being carcinogens. The Food and Drug Administration is keeping a wary eye on the sector, but as of now the FDA has still deemed them safe.
3) High Fructose Corn Syrup – It’s one of the most prevalent additives on the planet and also one of the most denounced. A cousin of table sugar (sucrose), this is a processed form of glucose that is converted into fructose, which is a normal sugar present in fruit. Some researchers claim it inhibits leptin production, the hormone that tells you when you are full. Others claim it contains high levels of mercury. But the most passionate denouncers claim it is contributing to the obesity epidemic in this country by adding sugar to virtually every product on the shelves.
4) MSG - Best known as an additive in Chinese food, it goes by the names monosodium glutamate, maltodextrin, sodium caseinate, autolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast,hydrolyzed vegetable protein, citric acid and yeast extract, among some 40 names for it. MSG has been shown to damage nerve cells by stimulating them to the point of cellular death. It is a neurotoxin and is also said to induce obesity. It is found in canned foods, diet beverages, packaged sausages, instant soups, salad dressings and even some packaged vegetarian foods.
MORE ADDITIVES
Although those are the top four, they are far from the most dangerous. Here are a few more additives you should watch out for when shopping.
1. Food dyes - Found in fruit juices, salad dressings, sodas and other foods. Some studies have linked dyes to reductions in IQ in children, while studies on animals claim the colorings cause cancer. Some dyes that are sold in the United States are banned in Europe. Blue #1 and Blue #2 are banned in Finland, Norway and France as possibly damaging chromosomes, while Red Dye #3 (also known as Red #40) was banned in 1990, but continues to be on the market in some locations because the ban allowed sales until supplies ran out. Yellow #6 and Yellow Tartrazine, found in American cheese, macaroni and cheese, and many beverages, has been linked to kidney problems and chromosomal damage.
2. Sodium Sulfite - A preservative that is used in processed foods and winemaking, it can cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to sulfites. Many of those who have a problem with sulfites are asthmatic, which may suggest a link. In some severe cases, sulfites can cause death by closing the airway of the allergy sufferer.
3. Sodium nitrates - Sometimes called sodium nitrites, this is a preservative that adds color and flavoring to hot dogs, bacon, corned beef and other processed meats. The ingredient is highly carcinogenic in the human digestive system and the United States Food and Drug Administration once tried to ban it, but was foiled by the processed meat industry, which claimed there were no alternatives available to keeping its meat preserved. It turns old meat red, making it appear fresh.
4. BHA and BHT - Its formal names are butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and both are found in chewing gum, potato chips, cereals and vegetable oils. They are used to keep foods from changing color, losing flavor or turning rancid. But it has also been shown to affect the neurological centers of the brain, alter behavior and cause cancer. They are both oxidants which can cause cancer in the body.
5. Sulfur dioxide – It’s prohibited in the United States on raw fruits and vegetables, but found in some imported foods. It has been known to cause low blood pressure, bronchial problems and anaphylactic shock. Children are particularly vulnerable to this additive.
Those are just a few of the more troublesome additives. If you want to cut down your exposure, focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, organic meats, and eschew most processed foods and beverages. It’s not an easy task, but it beats exposing your family to materials that may cause long-term damage when ingested as part of a regular diet.