Aspartame, Saccharin, Tartrazine oh my!

I came across an interesting article this morning from the EatThisNotThat twitter feed on food additives. Proposing that all of the 11 food additives listed are "controversial", this article is definitely worth looking at. As someone who tries actively (and usually has trouble being successful at) avoiding chemical food additives, this article was extremely eye-opening.


Here is what Women's Health Magazine believed to best the 11 Most Controversial Food Additives:


1. Acesulfame Potassium (Acesulfame-K)
2. Artificial Flavoring
3. Aspartame
4. BHA and BHT
5. High Fructose Corn Syrup (...should be considered the worst in my opinion)
6. Interesterified Fat
7. Monosodium Gultamate (MSG)
8. Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
9. Red #3 (Erythrosine) and Red #40 (Allura Red)
10. Saccharin
11. Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) and Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow)


With an abundance of links drawn between consumption and cancer, seizures, tumors and weight-gain, it seems like there is no benefit from consuming any of the above listed food additives. But with the way food is prepared, packaged and preserved, it is nearly impossible to buy and consume all foods that are free of any of these chemicals. I'm sure if you look close enough, even those frozen meals you buy at Whole Foods contain at least one of these "controversial" food additives.

Take a look at the article, and take from it what you may - who knows, maybe it'll change the way you buy and consume some of your favorite foods.


http://eatthis.womenshealthmag.com/content/11-most-controversial-food-additives?article=7&page=1