Sneaky Food Additives

According to the Food And Drug Administration, a food additive is any substance added to foods that indirectly or directly becomes, or is reasonably expected to become, part of the food. Substances used to preserve, produce, store, treat, transport, enhance, or package food are classified as additives. Such practices aren’t a novel concept. Salt, for example, has been used to cure meats for centuries. Unlike those straightforward practices, however, many additives are very sneaky today. They show up in so many products that it’s very easy for consumers to get too much from too many sources. While the FDA maintains a list of over three thousand ingredients and provides regulations for additives in the United States' food supply, many food additives are riddled in controversy over the potential harm and health concerns they’re causing consumers. Let’s explore some common food additives and see where the problems may exist.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup

This sweetener comes from corn and is less expensive and sweeter than sucrose, which is sugar made from sugar cane. Beyond sweets, high-fructose corn syrup is found in many sodas, cereals, baked goods, and processed foods. It’s even hiding in places consumers would never think to look, such as many brands of ketchup, processed oatmeal, applesauce, pickle relish, and cold cuts. It’s estimated the calories from thirteen to twenty-five percent of United States diets are at least twenty-five percent added sugar. A 2015 study published in The Journal of Nutrition found fructose consumption is linked to many metabolism disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, and high cholesterol.

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MSG

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is another sneaky additive even the most conscientious eater often overlooks. It’s most widely known as an ingredient in Chinese food, and it’s also commonly found as a flavor enhancer and thickening agent in everything from potato chips and breakfast sausage to gravy packages. It’s also a natural byproduct of processing proteins in processed foods. Just as high fructose corn syrup is often labeled as 'fructose' by manufacturers, MSG also has many names on labels, such as monopotassium glutamate and vegetable protein extract. Amongst the many studied side effects of too much monosodium glutamate are hyperglycemia, fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, obesity, headaches, skin disturbances, and neurological and gut-brain disturbances.

Continue reading to reveal more sneaky food additives to be aware of.