A food additive is defined as: Any substance not normally consumed as a food by itself and not normally used as a typical ingredient of the food, whether or not it has nutritive value, the intentional addition of which to food for a technological aspect in the manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food results, or may be reasonably expected to result, (directly or indirectly) in it or its by-products becoming a component of or otherwise affecting the characteristics of such foods.
Sodium chloride is not considered a food additive, but I have put it into this list because many people don’t know the difference between highly processed and less processed salt and how they affect the body.
Food additives have been associated with cancer, autism, asthma, increased belly fat, ADD, ADHD, heart disease, headaches, aggression, lack of concentration, skin rash, high cholesterol, heart palpitations, birth defects, stomach pain, diarrhea, migraines and obesity.
- Acetic acid
- Adipic acid
- Aluminum ammonium sulfate
- Aluminum potassium sulfate
- Aluminum sodium sulfate
- Aluminum sulfate
- Ammonium bicarbonate
- Ammonium carbonate
- Ammonium hydroxide
- Ammonium phosphate (mono and dibasic)
- Ammonium sulfate
- Beeswax (yellow wax)
- Bentonite
- Butane
- Caffeine
- Calcium carbonate
- Calcium chloride
- Calcium citrate
- Calcium gluconate
- Calcium hydroxide
- Calcium lactate
- Calcium oxide
- Calcium phosphate (mono, di, tribasic)
- Caramel
- Carbon dioxide
- Carnauba wax
- Citric acid
- Dextrans
- Ethyl formate
- Glutamic acid
- Glutamic acid hydrochloride
- Glycerin
- Glyceryl monostearate
- Helium
- Hydrochloric acid
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Lactic acid
- Lecithin (soy)
- Magnesium carbonate
- Magnesium hydroxide
- Magnesium oxide
- Magnesium stearate
- Malic acid
- Methylcellulose
- Monoammonium glutamate
- Monopotassium glutamate
- Nitrogen
- Nitrous oxide
- Papain
- Phosphoric acid
- Potassium acid tartrate
- Potassium bicarbonate
- Potassium carbonate
- Potassium citrate
- Potassium hydroxide
- Potassium sulfate
- Propane
- Propylene glycol
- Rennet (rennin)
- Silica aerogel
- Sodium acetate
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate
- Sodium aluminum phosphate
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Sodium carbonate
- Sodium carboxymethylcellulose
- Sodium caseinate
- Sodium chloride, highly processed sea or mined
- Sodium chloride, iodized
- Sodium chloride, sea salt (Atlantic or Celtic)
- Sodium citrate
- Sodium hydroxide
- Sodium pectinate
- Sodium phosphate (mono, di, tribasic)
- Sodium potassium tartrate
- Sodium sesquicarbonate
- Sodium tripolyphosphate
- Succinic acid
- Sulfuric acid
- Tartaric acid
- Triacetin (glyceryl triacetate)
- Triethyl citrate
Helpful Links and References:
- General purpose food additives: https://www.eufic.org/article/en/page/BARCHIVE/expid/basics-food-additives/
- Dangers of food additives: https://www.buzzle.com/articles/dangers-of-food-additives-and-preservatives.html
- Increased belly fat from food additives: https://www.bellybytes.com/foodfacts/additive_facts.html
- Food Additives Guide: https://www.mbm.net.au/health/guide.htm
- Top 20 Food additives to Avoid: https://altmedangel.com/additive.htm (Easy to read and informative)
- Food additives in fast food: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/class-action-taco-bell-reflects-changing-ideas-fast/story?id=12756485