Additive

Effect

Found In

Benzoates:

A family of about 10 chemicals that are banned in Russia

Believed to cause brain damage and to trigger allergies such as asthma and skin rashes

Margarine, fruit juices, beer, fruit purees, tea and coffee extracts, pickles and flour.

Bromates:

Destroy nutrients and cause nausea and diarrhoea

Used to bleach and to "mature" flour. Found in bread and white flour.

Butylates:

Have been implicated in high blood and cholesterol levels, as well as impaired kidney and liver function.

Margarine, butter, vegetable oils.

BHA

(butylated hydroxyanisole - a preservative)

Suspected of causing liver ailments and cancer

Fresh pork and pork sausages, steak sauces, vegetable oils, shortenings, crackers, potato chips, dry cereals. cake mixes, frozen pizza, instant teas, drink powders and many more.

Caffeine:

Colorant and flavorant

Stimulant, diuretic, causes nervousness, heart palpitations; may cause heart defects

Coffee, tea, cocoa, cola, soft drinks

Caramel:

A popular coloring and flavoring agent

Suspected of causing vitamin B6 deficiencies, having genetic effects and possibly even causing cancer

Candy, instant tea, soft drinks, bread, frozen pizza, brown colored foods like spreads, chocolate and baked goods.

Carrageenan:

Thickening agent and binder

Suspected of colitis effects, possible genetic effects

Sour cream, cottage cheese, yoghurt, whipped toppings, chocolate milk, ice cream, beer, jelly, gelatin, pudding desserts, baby formulas, punch drinks, olives, vegetables packaged with sauces, cookie dough, bread.

Chlorines:

Banned everywhere in the EEC except Britain

Powerful Irritant

Used to bleach flour and fat. In bread, flour and water.

Coal Tar AZO Dies:

Includes Tartrazine.

Hyperactivity, birth defects in animals, allergies, stomach upsets

Packet soups, sweets, smoked fish and meat, salad cream and jams.

Gallates:

They stop fats from going rancid

Stomach irritant and allergen

Vegetable oils, bread, dry cereals, and fats.

Glutamates:

As in monosodium glutamate

Can cause headaches, neck and/or chest pains in the sensitive, dizziness, palpitations and cancer. May cause genetic damage.

Used in almost every convenience food

Mono- and Di-glycerides

May cause genetic changes, cancer, birth defects and other abnormalities

Shortening, margarine, peanut butter, broth, bread, pies, dry roasted nuts, vegetables packaged with sauce, cookies, cakes, ravioli.

Nitrates/Nitrites:

Used to preserve meat and give hams their pink color

Increasingly suspected of causing cancer - especially in combination with other products. Overdoses have caused deaths

In cured meat products, some cheeses and in water where nitrate fertilizers are frequently used

Propyl Gallate

May damage the liver. May cause birth defects.

Meat products, potato sticks, vegetables packed with sauces, vegetable shortening and oils, chewing gum, pickles.

Red Dye 40

(Allura Red AC)

Possibly causes birth defects. Cancer suspect

Frankfurters, red gelatin desserts, red sweets, red soft drinks, red pistachio nuts, red chewing gums, cereals and baked goods.

Saccharin:

Inexpensive sugar substitute. Popular with diabetics. Danger warning now required on packets in some countries.

Causes allergic response and toxic reactions affecting skin, heart and gastro-intestinal tract. May cause tumors and bladder cancer.

Sugar substitute used in diet foods, ginger ale, plain and diet sodas, frozen desserts and breakfast drinks.

Sodium Erythrobate (Preservative, coloring agent, used to "freshen" foods)

Possible genetic effects, banned in several countries

Bacon, ham, frozen turkey roast, frankfurters, baked goods, potato salads, beverages.

Sulphites:

As in sulphur dioxide and calcium sulphite 

Genetic mutations, cancer and allergies

Fruit, dried fruit and some wines

Tannin:

(Tannic Acid) Used for flavoring and in leather tanning

May cause liver tumors, cancer and other ailments

Wine, coffee, tea cocoa, beer, butter, artificial flavorings such as caramel. brandy and maple.