Some of the chemicals highlighted in the guide are not allowed for use in food in the European Union, including potassium bromate, a carcinogenic bread additive, and brominated vegetable oil, a flavor stabilizer used in beverages that can harm the nervous system.
We especially recommend avoiding foods with synthetic colorants, known as FD&C colorants. Dietary exposure to these colorants can lead to changes in the nervous system, such as an increased risk of attention deficit disorders and other neurobehavioral changes in children. Foods sold in Europe that carry several of these colorants must carry a warning stating they may harm activity and attention in children.
In addition to additives in the ingredient list on the food label, potentially harmful chemicals can migrate into food from food packaging and end up in our diet.
Such materials include PFAS, the family of fluorinated chemicals that can harm the developing fetus, suppress the immune system and cause other health harms. PFAS are added to packaging to make it slick and nonstick. Other food packagings chemicals, such as phthalates and bisphenol A, can disrupt the normal function of the endocrine system and affect reproductive system development.
Food Additives To Avoid
| Chemical | Function | Side-effect | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brominated vegetable oil | Emulsifier | Harm to the nervous system | Soda, sports drinks |
| Potassium bromate | Dough conditioning | Increased risk of cancer | Bread, noodles, dough-based products |
| Nitrate and nitrite | Antimicrobials (meat preservatives) | Increased risk of cancer | Processed meat |
| Propyl paraben | Antimicrobials (preservatives) | Endocrine disruption | Corn tortillas |
| Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA); butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT); propyl gallate; tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) | Antioxidants (preservatives) | Increased risk of cancer Change to the immune system | Processed meat, ready-to-eat cereal, flour-based snacks |
| FD&C colors (Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3) | Synthetic colorants | Neurobehavioral problems in children | Candy, ready-to-eat baked goods, chips and snacks, cereal, soda |
| Titanium dioxide | Mineral colorants | Change to the immune system in the digestive tract | Candy, ready-to-eat baked goods, ice cream |
| Acesulfame potassium, advantame, aspartame, neotame, saccharin, sucralose | Non-nutritive synthetic sweeteners | Weight gain and change in metabolism | Diet beverages and other prepared beverages, ice cream |
Food Packaging Chemicals
| Chemical | Health Harm |
|---|---|
| BPA | Endocrine disruptor |
| PFAS | Harm to the immune system, harm to the developing fetus, increased risk of cancer |
| Phthalates | Endocrine disruptors |