7 Dangerous Food Additives to Avoid

By Sara Novak, Planet Green

A diet with too many processed foods can cause a world of trouble for us on a number of fronts. Processed foods lack nutrient density, meaning that many of the vitamins and minerals have been lost in processing or they weren’t there in the first place. Second, we tend to overeat foods like chips, cookies, boxed meals, dips, etc. because we don’t feel satiated. We don’t feel as full as with whole foods loaded with fibrous fruits and vegetables, so we keep on eating. But the most scary aspect of processed foods can often be what we didn’t even realize was added in the first place.

Food additives serve a world of purposes, most of which we weren’t even aware of, but they can also do us harm. You may be seriously surprised at not only what you’ve been ingesting, but what it could be doing to you and the planet.

1. Food Dyes

If you have kids, this is a big one. NPR reported that the FDA is meeting this week to decide whether some foods with added dyes should either be banned or at least carry a warning label to let parents know ahead of time. Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest is most concerned about Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6, which make up 90 percent of the food dyes on the market. Food dyes are known to cause child hyperactivity and even ADHD. Though we’ve been using food dyes for years, use has gone up fivefold in the past 50 years, according to the article. Food dyes are found in processed foods especially fruit snacks, candy, cookies, icing, sausage, and cereal. Read labels and stick to whole foods to avoid them.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Mary M.

5:34AM PDT on May 4, 2012

Interesting

send a green star

5:33AM PDT on May 4, 2012

Lydia P.

1:05AM PDT on Apr 19, 2012

All of these things are indeed scary. My father worked as a metallurgist at a major chemical factory and in the 1970's he was examining the linings of cans for Green Giant and others. Most of the major manufacturers had problems with acids in foods affecting the metals in cans. When these coatings first came out, it was not only to preserve the quality of the food, but to prevent metal poisoning. We thought it was a good thing. Now we know that we never should have moved away from glass jars.

Sheri P.

9:26PM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

there is so much garbage in food it's not even funny...

june k.

1:45PM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

well, what a topic!
but i really wonder if anyone can avoid these things.
we are all bombarded with these things everyday, and even though we may read labels the question is "what's the alternative?"

Molly S.

11:16AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

Another argument in favor of clean eating.

JAYDE h.

9:56AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

YUCK!! Glad i read this.

Winifred H.

8:41AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

These days you need to read every label!

Lindsey W.

4:47AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

thanks.

Corrie K.

4:09AM PDT on Apr 18, 2012

i am over 20 years a vegetarian, i read labels, make everything homemade, buy bread fresh from the bakery which is yummy here in germany! :D and germany also has no gm foods. i avoid food additives like, well like food additives :D chemicals which were never meant to be eaten. so no new info here but good article.