http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/indepth.food/additives/table.html
Additive | Description | Used in: | Purpose | Side effects |
Algin | A compound extracted from algae | Puddings, milkshakes, ice cream | Make foods creamier and thicker, extend shelf life | None |
Aspartame | Chemical compound made of methanol, aspartic acid and phenylalanine | Beverages, puddings, yogurt, chewing gum, and sold as Nutrasweet, Spoonful and Equal | Low-calorie sweetener | Some people are allergic to aspartame. Migraine headaches a common reaction in these people |
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) | A phenolic chemical compound | Foods high in fats and oils such as butter; also meats, cereals, baked goods, beer, snack foods, dehydrated potatoes, chewing gum | Preservative, keeps food from going rancid; also as defoaming agent for yeast | Inconclusive; in large doses may cause tumors in lab animals |
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) | A phenolic chemical compound | Cereals, shortening, foods high in fats and oils | Preservative, keeps food from changing flavor, odor, color | Inconclusive, in large doses may cause tumors in lab animals |
Calcium Carbonate | Compound containing the nutrient calcium | Some bakery products, frozen desserts, and flour | Emulsifier, bleaching agent, dietary supplement | No negative effects as a food additive * |
Carrageenan | Compound extracted from Irish Moss, a type of seaweed | Puddings, milkshakes, ice cream | Make foods jell, stabilize foods to keep color and flavor even | None |
Additive | Description | Used in: | Purpose | Side effects |
Citric Acid | An acid which occurs naturally in fruits such as lemons and limes | Canned fruit juices, cheese, margarine, salad dressings | Flavoring and neutralizing agent (keeps food at proper acidity) | None |
Erythorbic acid | Acidic substance, also known as iso-ascorbic acid | Soft drinks, juice, wine | Preservative, maintains color and flavor | None |
Folic Acid | B-complex vitamin | Breakfast cereals, enriched breads, flour, corn meal, rice, noodles, macaroni and other grain products | Dietary supplement, helps prevent heart disease | None |
Fumaric Acid | Chemical produced when humans digest carbohydrates; also synthetically manufactured | Fruit jellies and preserves | Controls acidity/alkalinity in foods, also dietary supplement | None |
Glycerin | A syrupy type of alcohol derived from sugar | Food flavorings | Maintaining desired food consistency | None |
Guar Gum | Substance made from seeds of the guar plant, a legume grown in India | Cheese, including processed cheese, ice cream, jelly and preserves, and dressings | Stabilizer | None |
Additive | Description | Used in: | Purpose | Side effects |
Iron | A metal necessary in the diet | Breakfast cereals, enriched breads | Dietary supplement | None as a food additive * |
Lactic Acid | A bitter-tasting substance obtained from sour milk | Bakery products, cheese, frozen desserts, fruit butters, jellies and preserves | Neutralizing agent, flavoring | None |
Lecithin | An emulsifying agent found naturally in milk and some vegetables | Cacao bean products such as cocoa butter and chocolate, bakery products, margarine and cheese products | Keeps food products from separating | None |
Methylcellulose | A number of gummy substances, produced through reaction between cellulose and methyls | Fruit butters, jellies | Keeps food products from separating | None |
Mono- and Diglycerides | Emulsifying agents, may be derived from soybean fat | Shortening, margarine, cacao products, bakery products | Keeps food products from separating | None |
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) | A salt of the amino acid glutamic acid | Canned vegetables, canned tuna, dressings, many frozen foods | Flavor enhancer | Generally recognized as safe; however, those on low-sodium diets should avoid it. Negative side effects also appear in some people when eaten in large amounts, and in some asthmatics. |
Additive | Description | Used in: | Purpose | Side effects |
Pectin | A water-soluble substance present in various ripe fruits and vegetables | Canned fruit, fruit butters, jellies and preserves | Making foods jell, also to keep foods from separating | None |
Phosphoric Acid | A substance created by exposing phosphorous to oxygen | Acidified skim milk, cheese | Acidifying agent, emulsifier | None |
Potassium Bisulfite | Type of sulfite | Wine, dried apples, dehydrated potatoes | Preventing fruit discoloration, inhibiting bacterial growth in wine | Some humans allergic to sulfites; in U.S., FDA prohibits their use on raw fruits and vegetables |
Potassium Metabisulfite | Type of sulfite | Wine, dried apples, dehydrated potatoes | Preventing fruit discoloration, inhibiting bacterial growth in wine | Some humans allergic to sulfites; in U.S., FDA prohibits their use on raw fruits and vegetables |
Potassium Nitrite | One of a number of nitrites used with salt to prevent food from spoiling | Cured red meat and poultry products | Preservative | None known |
Propionic Acid | A type of bacteria found naturally in the production of cheese; also made synthetically | Cheese, bread | Mold inhibitor, preservative | None |
Additive | Description | Used in: | Purpose | Side effects |
Saccharin | Non-nutritive water-soluble sugar substitute | Fruit juice drinks, carbonated beverages, canned fruits, fruit butters, jellies, preservatives, and in sugar substitutes for cooking, table use | Sweetener | Known to cause cancer in laboratory animals |
Sodium Aluminosilicate | A naturally-occurring mineral | Dried whole eggs and egg yolks, grated cheeses | Keeps food from caking and clumping up | None |
Sodium Benzoate | A granular salt | Soft drinks, packaged beverages, fruit preserves and jellies, concentrated orange juice, margarine, fast-food burgers | Preservative | None |
Sodium Bicarbonate | A crystalline salt; also known as baking soda | Baked goods, canned vegetables, cereal flours | Leavening agent, also maintains acid balance in canned products | Significant source of sodium; those on low-sodium diets should avoid consuming large quantities |
Sodium Bisulfite | Type of sulfite | Bottled lemon juice, wine, dried apples, dehydrated potatoes | Preventing fruit discoloration, inhibiting bacterial growth in wine | Some humans allergic to sulfites; in U.S., FDA prohibits their use on raw fruits and vegetables |
Sodium Metabisulfite | Type of sulfite | Wine, dried apples, dehydrated potatoes | Preventing fruit discoloration, inhibiting bacterial growth in wine | Some humans allergic to sulfites; in U.S., FDA prohibits their use on raw fruits and vegetables |
Additive | Description | Used in: | Purpose | Side effects |
Sodium Nitrite | A salt, also used in the manufacture of dyes | Smoked or cured fish, including salmon, and in meat-curing preparations | Preservative (prevents botulism), color fixative | Can combine with chemicals in stomach to form nitrosamine, a highly carcinogenic substance |
Sodium Sulfite | Type of sulfite | Wine, dried apples, dehydrated potatoes | Preventing fruit discoloration | Some humans allergic to sulfites; in U.S., FDA prohibits their use on raw fruits and vegetables |
Sulfur Dioxide | Type of sulfite | Wine, dried apples, dehydrated potatoes | Preventing fruit discoloration, inhibiting bacterial growth in wine and on grapes | Some humans allergic to sulfites; in U.S., FDA prohibits its use on raw fruits and vegetables |
Vitamin A (incl. beta-carotene) | A fat-soluble vitamin. The human body converts beta-carotene into Vitamin A in the liver | Milk and cream, margarine, cheeses and cheese products | Dietary supplement | None as an additive * |
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | Vitamin found in legumes and other sources, helps the body convert carbohydrates into energy | Macaroni products, cereal flours | Dietary supplement | None |
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | Vitamin found in yogurt, wheat germ and other sources | Cereal flours, bakery products | Dietary supplement | None |
Additive | Description | Used in: | Purpose | Side effects |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Vitamin found in abundance in liver, chicken, tuna, whole-grain cereals | Cereal flours, enriched bread, macaroni and noodle products | Dietary supplement | None |
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | Water-soluble vitamin | Cereal flours, jellies and preserves, canned mushrooms and artichokes | Preservative, dietary supplement | None |
Vitamin D | A fat-soluble vitamin humans can produce naturally through exposure to direct sunlight | Milk, macaroni products, cereal products | Nutritional purposes, prevents rickets | None as an additive * |
Yeast | Single-celled organisms used to make wines ferment and bread rise | Bakery products, macaroni and noodle products, enriched corn meal | Dietary supplement, rising agent | None |