Nasty Food Additives - Know Which Ones Are the Worst

What we do know about food additives is alarming...

Food additives are used in most processed foods today, to keep the food from going off on the shelves in the supermarket, and to entice children (and adults) to purchase them, because they’re brightly colored and tasty. Unfortunately, there is a lot that we don’t know about the long term and combined effects that these additives could have on our health, and the health of our children. But what we do know is alarming.

The figures are growing, and growing and growing……

Consumers have been ingesting increasing amounts of food additives each year - in the 1960’s Americans consumed 3 pounds (1.36 kg) of additives per year, and this figure went up to 6 pounds (2.72kg) in the 1970’s. The 1990’s have seen this figure reach the 10 pound (4.53kg) mark. In Australia today, it is estimated that the average adult consumes 5 kg’s of food additives per year. And there is no end in sight, as manufacturers continue adding chemicals that they know help sell their products, while regulatory bodies that should be limiting their use, and protecting us, lag behind.

With children eating processed foods in large quantities, it is logical to assume they are consuming the same, if not more additives than adults. Furthermore, they have smaller bodies and developing brains, so may experience many more serious side effects from these additives than adults are experiencing.

A possible explanation for additives causing behavioral challenges in children

Artificial colors, flavors and preservatives seem to stop the synthesis of specific detoxifying enzymes, which means that certain foods can have toxic effects, and these toxins can’t be broken down and eliminated, and end up causing damage.

Some of these enzymes are also responsible for breaking down adrenaline and noradrenaline/epinephrine and norepinephrine, which could explain the fidgety behavior, and lack of focus that many of these children exhibit. Researchers are not sure how much damage this causes, but are certain that it can’t be a good thing for a growing brain to experience these challenges.

Some additives cause other problems

Many of the additives cause respiratory tract problems, such as asthma, rhinitis and hay fever. Many also cause skin problems, such as eczema and hives and some cause headaches and nausea. Some have been linked to neurological damage too.

In particular, one popular additive, tartrazine, actually leaches zinc out of the body, a mineral that is required in more than 200 different enzyme reactions in the body, and brain, and which is responsible for normal growth and development among a myriad of other critical functions.

What types of additives are added to our foods?

Although this isn’t an exhaustive list, it gives you a good idea of the extensive variety of a number of different types of additives that are used to keep ‘food’ from going off, add color and flavor and present products in the form that people have come to expect from processed foods:

Acidity regulators / Acids / Alkalis, Anti Foaming agents, Anti-caking agents, Anti-caking agents, Bleaching agents, Bulking agents, Carriers and carrier solvents, Colorants, Emulsifiers, Foaming agents, Firming agents / Stabilizers, Flavor enhancers, Gelling agents, Glazing agents, Humectants, Minerals, Preservatives, Propellants, Sweeteners, Thickeners, Vegetable gums, Vitamins and Waxes

Some of the worst additives

Although this list is also not an exhaustive list of all the additives used in the foods that line our supermarket shelves, it is a list of some of the worst ones.

• Tartrazine (102) - has been added to the list of ‘possibly having an adverse effect on the activity and attention of children.’ It is also termed an anti-nutrient by some researchers as it leaches zinc out of the body, and zinc is essential for proper neurological functioning, as well as physical growth.

• Quinoline Yellow (104) - When combined with MSG (621), Aspartame (951) and Brilliant Blue (133) it has been linked to neurological signaling difficulties, as well as interference with normal neuronal growth and development.

• Sunset yellow FCF, Orange/yellow S (110) – has been added to the list of ‘possibly having an adverse effect on the activity and attention of children.’

• Carmoisine (122) - has been added to the list of ‘possibly having an adverse effect on the activity and attention of children.’

• Amaranth red (123) - banned in Russia, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Japan and USA.

• Ponceau 4R, Cochineal red A (124) - has been added to the list of ‘possibly having an adverse effect on the activity and attention of children.’

• Erythrosine (127) – banned in USA in 1990 but not recalled by the FDA. Banned in Norway.

• Allura red (129) - has been added to the list of ‘possibly having an adverse effect on the activity and attention of children.’

• Brilliant Blue (133) - banned in British Commonwealth between 1972 – 1980. Banned in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. When combined with MSG (621), Aspartame (951) and Quinolene Yellow (104) it has been linked to neurological signaling difficulties, as well as interference with normal neuronal growth and development.

• Green S (142) - Banned in Canada, Japan, Sweden, USA and Norway - linked to hyperactivity, asthma, insomnia and skin rashes

• Caramel (150, a, b, c & d) - linked to gastrointestinal problems as well as as asthma and may affect the liver

• Brilliant Black (151) - linked to hyperactivity and asthma

• Chocolate Brown (155) - linked to asthma and other allergic reactions

• Annatto (160b) - linked to restlessness, insomnia, hives, head banging and irritability

• Benzoic Acid (210) – additives with benzoate in their name are used as preservatives, and are linked to hyper-arousal, or ADHD.

• Sodium Benzoate (211) - has been added to the list of ‘possibly having an adverse effect on the activity and attention of children.’

• Potassium Benzoate (212) - linked to skin irritations, asthma, hyperactivity and headaches

• Calcium Benzoate (213) - linked to similar reactions as additive above

• Propyl p-hydroxy-benzoate, propyl-paraben, paraben (216) - linked to skin irritations, such as redness, swelling and itchiness, as well as asthma

• Sulphur dioxide (220) - linked to respiratory discomfort, such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as hives

• Sodium sulphite (221) - linked to similar reactions as additive above

• Sodium metabisulphite (223) - linked to hay fever and asthma

• Potassium nitrate (249) - linked to asthma, headaches and stomach upset

• Butylated hydroxy-anisole (BHA) (320) - linked to asthma, headaches and insomnia as well as depression

• Stannous chloride (512) - linked to nausea, vomiting, fatigue and headaches and is a possible neurological toxin

• Monosodium Glutamate (621) - when combined with Brilliant Blue (133), Quinolene Yellow (104) and Aspartame (951) it has been linked to neurological signaling difficulties, as well as interference with normal neuronal growth and development. However, on its own it is also a problem, having been linked to numerous health issues, many of them neurological, such as seizures and headaches. Chest pains, nausea, and tightness of the face have also been linked to this additive. It is also used in another additive, called HVP (Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein.)

• Aspartame (951) – See above for the combined effect, but alone it is also linked with neurological problems, such as memory difficulties, headaches and ADD. People who already have mood disorders seem especially susceptible to this artificial sweetener. Artificial sweeteners can save food manufacturers as much as a third of the cost of a bottle of soda, which is why they prefer using them to costlier 'natural' sweeteners like ordinary sugar.

Two additives that kill brain cells!

These two additives, MSG and Aspartame, are also called excitotoxins, which is the scientific name for a substance that can excite a neuron (brain cell) to death. A child’s brain is four times as sensitive to this type of additive, making it very dangerous for a developing brain. However, this doesn't mean that an adults brain is safe, as there are researchers who believe these additives are linked to cognitive decline, and the more serious condition Alzheimer's.

Simply reading the label of any processed food will show you that there are always a combination of additives - the difference is that they have not all been tested as the four described above were tested, so it is impossible to know what the interaction between the additives could mean for your health. Also, don’t be fooled into thinking that nature identical flavorings are safer then artificial ones – they aren’t!

More additives best to avoid - artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners save manufacturers of soft drinks and other processed foods a lot of money. There have not been any long term tests done on the safety of any of these sweeteners and it is best to avoid them.

• Acesulfame-K (950) - linked to respiratory disease and leukaemia in animals

• Cyclamate (952) - linked to skin conditions like hives

• Saccharin and its NA, K and CA salts (954) - linked to various allergic reactions, like hives, as well as nausea, headaches and insomnia

• Sucralose (955) - liver and kidney damage caused to laboratory animals

• Neotame (961) - suspected of being a neurotoxic compound, potentially more toxic than aspartame

Surprise - a few safe additives ...

There are a few additives added to foods that are safe and won't cause any harm. However, keep these two points in mind. Firstly, the food manufacturer has often removed most of the nutrition from the food in the processing of it, to keep it shelf stable, so has to add something back to make the product seem nutritious, and secondly, if you eat food that is as close to nature as possible, you won't have to be eating foods that have had nutrients added to them. You'll be eating the foods that contain them naturally!

However, just so you know what they are, these are the safe additives:

Vitamin B1 (101)

Vitamin A, Carotene (160)

Vitamin C (300-304)

Vitamin E, tocopherols (306-309)

Lecithin (322)

Niacin (375)

Pectin(440)

Follow this really simple rule to avoid additives

Don't go into the centre of the supermarket! Stick to the outside, where the fresh produce is kept and you’ll be healthier, lighter and smarter. Choosing food as close to nature as possible means very little, if anything, needs to be added to the food. And then you won’t have to worry about reading those irritating, misleading labels either.

References

A consumers dictionary of food additives. Winter, R. M.S. Three Rivers Press, a division of Crown Publishers, New York, 2004.

Additive Alert - your guide to safer shopping. Eady J. Additive Alert, Western Australia, 2004 www.additivealert.com.au

Changing diets, changing minds: how food affects mental well being and behaviour. Van de Weyer, C. 2005. Sustain - the alliance for better food and farming. www.sustainweb.org

Fed up - understanding how food affects your child and what you can do about it. Dengate S. Random House, Australia, 2008. www.fedup.com.au

The nervous system. Osiecki H, Meeke F, Smith J. Bioconcepts Publishing, Queensland, Australia, 2004.

Excitotoxins – the taste that kills. Blaylock, R.L. M.D. Health Press, Sante Fe, NM. USA, 1997

The chemical maze shopping companion. (3rd Ed). Stratham B. Griffin Press, Australia, 2005.

The crazy makers - how the food industry is destroying our brains and harming our children. Simontacchi C. Penguin Putnam Inc, New York, USA, 2001.

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