EDTA



(safe)

Chelating agent. (Canned shellfish, margarine, mayonnaise, processed fruits and vegetables, salad dressing, sandwich spreads, soft drinks.) Modern food-manufacturing technology, which involves rollers, blenders, and containers made of metal, leaves trace amounts of metal in food. EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) traps metal impurities that would otherwise make oils rancid and break down artificial colors.

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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ERYTHORBIC ACID

(safe)

Antioxidant, color stabilizer. (Cured meat.) (See ascorbic acid.)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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FERROUS GLUCONATE

(safe)

Coloring, nutrient. (Black olives.) It?s used by the olive industry to generate a uniform jet-black color and in pills as a source of iron..)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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FUMARIC ACID

(safe)

Tartness agent. (Gelatin dessert, pie filling, powdered drinks, pudding.) It's the ideal source of tartness and acidity in dry food products. It's often mixed with dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS), a detergent-like additive that helps it dissolve in cold water..)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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GELATIN

(safe)

Gelling and thickening agent. (Beverages, cheese spread, ice cream, powdered dessert mixes, yogurt.) It's a protein obtained from animal hides and bones. It has less nutritional value than other proteins..)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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GLYCERIN


(Glycerol) (safe)

Maintains water content. (Baked goods, candy, fudge, marshmallows.) It's a natural component of fat molecules. The body uses it for calories or to make more-complex molecules..)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.
 

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GUMS

(Arabic, Furcelleran, Ghatti, Guar, Karaya, Locust Bean, Tragacanth, Xanthan.) (safe)

Stabilizers, thickening agents. (Beverages, candy, cottage cheese, dough, drink mixes, frozen pudding, ice cream, salad dressing.) Gums are derived from natural sources (bushes, trees, seaweed, bacteria). They are used to thicken foods, prevent sugar crystals from forming in candy, stabilize beer foam (arabic), form a gel in pudding (furcelleran), encapsulate flavor oils in powdered drink mixes, or replace fat in foods like low-fat ice cream, baked goods, and salad dressings. In rare instances, tragacanth has caused severe allergic reactions..)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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HEPTYL PARABEN

(caution)

Preservative. (Beer, non-carbonated soft drinks.) Studies suggest that this rarely used additive is safe. But-like other additives in alcoholic beverages-it has never been tested in the presence of alcohol..)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.


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HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP

(HFCS) (cut back)

Sweetener. (Soft drinks, many other foods.) HFCS is make by treating corn syrup with enzymes to convert some of its dextrose to fructose. It has largely replaced ordinary sugar in soft drinks and many other foods because it's cheaper. But it's no better for you..)

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN

(HVP) (certain people should avoid)

Flavor enhancer. (Beef stew, frankfurters, instant soup, sauce mixes.) It consists of plant protein (usually from soybeans) that has been chemically broken down into its amino acid components. HVP brings out the natural flavor of food. It contains MSG and may cause reactions in sensitive people (see MSG).

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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INVERT SUGAR

(cut back)

Sweetener. (Candy, soft drinks.) This 50-50 mixture of two sugars (dextrose and fructose) is sweeter and more soluble than sucrose (table sugar). It?s nothing but empty calories, and it contributes to tooth decay.

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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LACTIC ACID

(safe)

Controls acidity. (Carbonated beverages, cheese, frozen desserts, Spanish olives.) It occurs in almost all living organisms. It inhibits spoilage in Spanish-type olives, balances the acidity in cheese, and adds tartness to frozen dessert, carbonated fruit-flavored sodas, and other foods.

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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LACTOSE

(safe)

Sweetener. (Breakfast pastries, whipped topping mixes.) Lactose (milk sugar) is one of Nature?s ways of delivering calories to infant mammals. It?s one-sixth as sweet as table sugar and is added to food as a slightly sweet source of carbohydrates. Some people have trouble digesting large amounts of lactose.

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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LECITHIN


(safe)

Antioxidant, emulsifier. (Baked goods, chocolate, ice cream, margarine.) It's a natural source of the nutrient choline. It's found in egg yolks, soybeans, and a few other foods. It keeps oil and water from separating, retards rancidity, reduces spattering, and helps make cakes fluffier.

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.


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MANNITOL

(cut back)

Chewing gum, no sugar-added food.) It's not quite as sweet as sugar and is poorly absorbed by the body, so it contributes only half as many calories as sugar. Large amounts may have a laxative effect.

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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MODIFIED STARCH




(safe)

Thickening agent. (Baby food, gravy, soup.) It's used to improve the consistency of processed foods and to keep their solids suspended. Starch and modified starches sometimes replace more-nutritious ingredients like fruit. One small study suggested that modified starches can promote diarrhea in infants.

Safe:
These appear to be safe, though a few people may be allergic to any single additive.

Cut back:
These are non toxic, but large amounts may be unsafe or unhealthy.

Caution:
These may pose a risk and need to better tested.

Certain People Should Avoid:
These cause allergic or other reactions in some people.

Everyone Should Avoid:
These are unsafe in the amounts consumed or are very poorly tested.

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