Food Additives – How Do They Affect Health?
Ideally, if we all just stuck to eating whole foods, you know, those foods, like – fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, fish, eggs, poultry, meats, wholegrain, then we wouldn’t need to know about food additives, because they are not present in fresh whole foods at all.
But there are times, for one reason or another where you may need to buy packaged foods and these foods may contain food additives. These are numbers found on the back of packaged foods, they find themselves in the ingredient list!
Always go straight to the ingredient list to find these numbers, even if a product states “natural” this may mislead you to believe that the product is free of additives, but this may not be the case. Not all additives are created equal, so with the permission of Julie Eady from her book “Additive Alert” here is some insight on their effects on our health.
SUSPECTED CARCINOGENS – These additives have proven or strongly suspected links to cancer in animals and/or humans: |
| 110 122 123 124 127 129 131 132 133 153 155 249 250 251 252 310 319 320 321407 407a 431 432 433 435 436 466 553 900 914 943a 950 951 952 954 1201 |
Additives not recommended for children– Pregnant and breastfeeding women may wish to avoid these also: |
| 102 104 110 120 123 124 127 129 131 132 133 142 151 153 155160b 162211 216 220 221 222 223 224 225 228 249 250 251 252 264 280 281282 283 290 296 310 311 312 319 320 321 349 355405 407 407a 420 421 431 432 433 435 436 466 508 514 553 554 555 556620 621 622 623 624 625 627 631 635 641914 943a 943b 944 950 951 952 954 955 956 957 966 967 201 1520 1521 |
Prohibited in foods for infants and young children by FSANZ guidelines– Children, pregnant and breastfeeding women may wish to avoid these also: |
| 249 250 251 252 310 311 312 320 321 420 421 621 627 631 635 |
Hyperactive or hypersensitive reaction possible -These should be avoided by children, especially those with ADD or ADHD, or anyone with known chemical sensitivities: |
| 102 103 104 110 120 122 123 124 127 129 131 132 133 142 150 151155 160b 210 211 220 282 319 320 321 421 620 621 627 631 635 951 |
Linked to Asthma – These additives have been known to trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks in sufferers. Asthmatics or anyone at risk of asthma may wish to avoid them. |
| 102 104 110 122 123 127 129 131 132 142 151 155 160b 163200 201 202 210 211 212 213 216 220 221 222 223 224 225 228249 250 251 252 280 281 282 283 310 311 312 319 320 321 407 407a620 621 622 623 624 625 627 631 635 928 951 1403 1404 |
Banned in other countries –These additives are still permitted in Australia despite being banned in other countries, often because of their links to cancer, birth defects, or other serious safety concerns. |
| 102 104 120 122 123 124 127 129 132 133 142 151 153 155 173 174 175 320 385635 952 954 |
Safety Suspect: adverse reaction possible – These additives vary greatly in the severity of the associated health concerns. In some cases, the jury is still out about their long-term safety. Other additives in this category are linked to severe effects in existing references. |
| 100 102 104 110 120 122 123 124 127 129 131 132 133 142 150 151155 160b 172 173 174 175200 201 202 203 210 211 212 213 216 218 220 221 222 223 224 225228 235 249 250 251 252 264 280 281 282 283 290 296310 311 312 319 320 321 337 338 349 355 385405 407 407a 409 413 414 416 420 421 422 431 445 466 477 480482 491 508 510 512 514 519 530 541 553 554 555 556 579620 621 622 623 624625 627 631 635 641914 924 928 943a 943b 944 951 952 954 955 956 965 966 9671201 1422 1520 1521 |
Not recommended for those with salicylate intolerance |
| 102 104 110 120 122 123 124 127 132 133 142 150 151 155 211 212 213 216 218310 311 312 321621 623 627 |
Not recommended for those with kidney or liver problems |
| 172 181 201 202 203 211 220 228 252 261 310 336 337 380 385 420 421 450 450a 451 452 508 510 511 514 518 519 554 555 556 621 914 951 952 954 955 956 1201 1520 |
Recently added to Australian standards– Little information about safety is available for these additives |
| 127 143 150 160d 160e 164 173 174 175 242 354 359 363 368 407a 431 445 472f 530 555 560 580 586635 640 641 914 943a 943b 944 946 953 955 956 957 961 965 966 967 968 1001 1521 |