That “harmless” splash of color in your drink or the preservative keeping your snack fresh? It might be doing more harm than good. There are additives that could mess with your body in many different ways. Here are 10 worst offenders, so you’ll know exactly what to watch out for.
10. Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a food additive extracted from red seaweed, used to thicken and stabilize your favorite almond milk or ice cream. Emerging research has associated carrageenan with a higher risk of heart disease and even breast cancer. Experts believe that this additive can trigger inflammation in the digestive tract, which is a root cause of many serious diseases.
9. Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is everywhere, specifically in acidic foods and drinks like sodas, fruit juices, salad dressings, and pickles. While it’s effective at preventing the growth of bacteria in foods, research linked it to behavioral disturbances in children. This, in turn, also raised serious questions about the long-term effects on adults who consume the additive daily.
8. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
MSG has been controversial for decades, but recent research reveals much deeper concerns. A 2024 study discovered that long-term consumption of MSG can damage the beneficial bacteria in your gut. But it doesn’t stop there, as other studies have linked MSG consumption to cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and inflammation throughout the body.
7. Potassium Bromate
Bread manufacturers use potassium bromate to strengthen dough and help it rise into those fluffy loaves. It’s great at what it does, but here’s the scary truth: this “bread improver” is a known carcinogen that’s banned in the European Union, Canada, China, and many other countries. Studies have shown that it causes kidney tumors in rats, and it’s classified as a renal carcinogen.
6. BHA and BHT
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are two synthetic antioxidants used to preserve fats and oils in many processed foods, including breakfast cereals and potato chips. BHA is in the same category as substances we know can cause cancer, while BHT is believed to cause reproductive toxicity, plus lung and skin irritation.
5. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
This public enemy may be more harmful than we thought. Aside from being linked to serious heart damage and inflammation, HFCS has contained more fructose than considered safe. This change doesn’t just lead to long-term disruptions to gut health. It also creates a pathway to chronic diseases.
4. Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a whitening agent used in over 10,000 food items in the U.S. alone. Think candy, coffee creamer, and chewing gum. It’s the same stuff they add to sunscreen and paint to make them white. The European Food Safety Authority stated that titanium dioxide is no longer considered safe as a food additive because of concerns that it could damage human DNA.
3. Aspartame
Aspartame is a popular artificial sweetener you’ll find in many diet sodas, sugar-free snacks, and low-calorie yogurts. For decades, it was considered safe. But in 2023, everything changed when the World Health Organization’s cancer research agency classified it as a possible human carcinogen. With so many other natural sweeteners today, why take the risk of consuming something that’s possibly harmful?
2. Artificial Food Dyes
Artificial food dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 are in countless products that fill our store shelves. Yes, they make foods vibrant, but the FDA announced in April 2025 that it would be phasing out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the food supply. This is in response to the strong scientific evidence linking the food dyes to cancer, neurobehavioral issues, and other health problems.
1. Nitrates and Nitrites
Sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate are responsible for giving processed meats their pink color and extended shelf life. The problem starts when these preservatives are exposed to high heat during cooking, as this could transform them into compounds that cause cancer. This is why the World Health Organization classified processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen. Meaning, there’s enough evidence that it causes cancer in humans.