Doc Hardy - Food additives that kill

Food additives that kill

The Sudan 1 scandal that saw nearly 500 products swept from supermarket

shelves left many of us deeply confused about the quality of what we eat.

The crisis exposed how fancy food packaging can disguise hidden dangers. We

take a look at what additives are safe and what to avoid.

Monosodium Glutamate E621 (Flavouring)

Not banned anywhere.

Commonly used in savoury processed foods. Research suggests it destroys

nerve cells in the brain and might be linked with aggravating or

accelerating Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Causes

cancer, DNA damage and foetal abnormalities in animals. Affects hyperactive

children.

Aspartame E951(Sweetener)

US Air Force pilots are banned from drinking soft drinks containing it.

200 times sweeter than sugar. Might cause neurological damage, especially in

younger children where the brain is still developing. Breaks down in the

body to phenylalanine (a neurotoxin that cause seizures), aspartic acid

(damages the developing brain) and methanol (turns into formaldehyde).

Crosses the placental barrier from mother to baby, even in small doses.

Implicated in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Non-Hodgkin's

Lymphoma. Might contribute to obesity. Manufacturers insist it is safe.

Acesulphame K E950(Sweetener)

Not banned anywhere.

200 times sweeter than sugar. Causes cancer in animals. Linked to

hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), lung tumours, increased cholesterol and

leukaemia. Might contribute to obesity.

Saccharine E954(Sweetener)

Banned in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, France, Malaysia, Zimbabwe,

Fiji, Peru, Israel, Taiwan.

350 times sweeter than sugar. Might interfere with blood coagulation, blood

sugar levels and digestive function. Causes cancer of the bladder, uterus,

ovaries, skin and blood vessels in animals. Has been linked to DNA damage

and congenital abnormalities in animals. Might contribute to obesity.

Sodium Benzoate E211(Preservative)

Not banned anywhere.

Commonly used in soft drinks, meat products, baked goods, lollies.

Aggravates asthma and suspected to be a neurotoxin and carcinogen, and to

cause foetal abnormalities. Affects hyperactive children.

Sulphur Dioxide E220(Preservative)

Not banned anywhere.

Commonly used in soft drinks, dried fruit, juices, cordials and potato

products. Known to provoke gastric irritation, nausea, diarrhoea, asthma

attacks, skin rashes. Destroys vitamin B1. Causes foetal abnormalities and

DNA damage in animals.

Quinoline Yellow E104(Colouring)

Banned in the US, Japan, Australia and Norway. UK use restricted to max.

permitted levels.

Commonly used in soft drinks, ice-creams, desserts, confectionery and

sauces. Linked to asthma, rashes and hyperactivity. Potential carcinogen in

animals: implicated in bladder and liver cancer. Also shown to affect the

reproductive system in animals.

Sunset Yellow E110(Colouring)

Banned in Norway, Finland and Sweden. UK use restricted to max. permitted

levels.

Commonly used in sweets, snack foods, ice-creams and drinks. Possible link

to cancer and DNA damage. Increased incidence of tumours in animals.

Carmoisine E122(Colouring)

Banned in US, Norway, Austria, Sweden and Japan. UK use restricted to max.

permitted levels.

Commonly used in sweets. Causes DNA damage and tumours in animals.

Ponceau 4R E124(Colouring)

Banned in US, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Japan. UK use restricted to max.

permitted levels.

Commonly used in soft drinks, ice-creams, confectionery and desserts. Banned

in the US as a carcinogen. Causes DNA damage and tumours in animals. Can

produce bad reactions in asthmatics.

Indigo Carmine E132(Colouring)

Banned in the US, Japan, Australia and Norway. UK use restricted to max.

permitted levels.

Commonly used in ice-creams, sweets, baked goods, confectionery, biscuits.

Might cause nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, breathing problems and brain

tumours. Causes DNA damage and tumours in animals.

Brilliant Blue E133 (Colouring)

Banned in British Commonwealth 1972-1980. Currently banned in Austria,

Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany. UK use restricted to max. permitted levels.

Commonly used in dairy products, sweets and drinks. Linked to hyperactivity

and skin rashes. Listed as human carcinogen by the US Environmental

Protection Agency. Causes DNA damage and tumours in animals.

*All of the Dirty Dozen are prohibited in the UK for foods marketed for

children under 36 months.

*All details of dangers are drawn from scientific studies. Other studies

might not show the same effects and many claims are strongly contested by manufacturers.

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