food additives
Food additives are used to enhance taste (such as black pepper and MSG), preserve, or fortify food. Examples of food additives are salt, gum arabic (see here, here), artificial coloring (in farmed fish as well), artificial flavoring, and citric acid. Sweeteners include stevia , erythritol, corn syrup, and nutrasweet, though only two are considered to be health-promoting. Some additives are considered harmful, including as potassium sorbate, coumarin (which has been banned), and nitrites (see also here, here, here, here, here, here). Some have been found to be contaminated with mercury and others associated with hyperactivity and dementia. The meat industry is even now considering additives to try to make meat safer.
Topic summary contributed by Jinda Chaijinda
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Watch videos about food additives
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Is Citric Acid Harmful?A hoax hoodwinks European consumers.
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Is Artificial Butter Flavor Harmful?The connection between diacetyl and the devastating lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans.
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Are Artificial Colors Harmful?The potential health effects of colorings such as cochineal, a food dye derived from crushed insects.
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Are Artificial Colors Bad for You?The effects of artificial colors on impulsivity, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity among young children.
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Is MSG Bad For You?What the peer-reviewed scientific literature has to say about MSG.
