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Additives to Avoid |
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The following is a list of common food additives that have negative health and/or behavioural effects. There are a number of food additives that are not on the list but they are not as common and have less severe reactions. Colours: 102, E107, 110,122-129, 132, 133, 142,150, 151, 155, 160b Preservatives: 200, 210-213, 220, 221-227, 228, 249-252, 280-283 Antioxidants: 310-312, 319-321 Emulsifiers: 407, 413, 416, 421, Anti-caking agent: 553 Flavour Enhancers:621, 622, 627, E634, 635 Miscellaneous Additives: E905, 925, 926, 1201, 1520 Artificial Sweeteners: 950, 951, E951, 952, 954 Common foods that the additives to avoid are found in include lollies, soft drink, fruit juice, cordial, ice cream, chocolate, bread and margarine. Note: Additives are also used in other products such as toothpaste and cosmetics but this website is discussing only the effect of additives in food |
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| Number & Name | Potential Effect When in Food | Foods found in |
| 102: Tartrazine | Hyperactivity, thyroid tumours, aggression, headache, migraine, nettle rash, hay fever, asthma, tingling of the mouth, insomnia, confusion, itching, blurred vision, swelling of lips and tongue, cancer
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Sweet corn, soft drink, marzipan, canned peas, cheese crackers, mint sauce, fruit juice cordial, jam, pickles, cereal, packaged soup, lollies, snack food |
| E107: Yellow 2G | Asthma, skin rashes, cancer, allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people, hyperactivity
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Soft drinks |
| 110: Sunset Yellow FCF | Allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people, asthma, hyperactivity, hives cancer, hay fever, abdominal pain
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Fruit juice cordial, hot chocolate mix, cereal, marzipan, ice cream, packet soup, canned fish, lollies, dry drink powders, snack food, carbonated beverages |
| 122: Azorubine | Cancer, allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people, asthma, hyperactivity
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Confectionery, marzipan, brown sauce, prepacked swiss roll, jelly crystals |
| 123:Amaranth | Cancer, asthma, hyperactivity, nettle rash, hay fever, allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people, malignant tumours, teratogen
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Packet cake mix, packet trifle mix, jelly crystals, soft drink, blackcurrant products, cereal
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| 124: Ponceau 4R | Allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people and asthmatics, hyperactivity, hay fever, urticaria, cancer
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Packet trifle mix, jelly crystals, packet cake mix, dessert topping, biscuits, canned strawberries |
| 127: Erythrosine | Cancer, breast cancer, hyperactivity, skin rash, hyperthyroidism, gene damage, asthma, light sensitivity, learning difficulties, benign tumours, thyroid tumours
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Sweets, canned red cherries, snack food, scotch eggs, canned fruit cocktail, packet trifle mix, maraschino cherries |
| 128: Red 2G | Cancer, asthma, skin rashes, anaemia, gene damage, hyperactivity, teratogen
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Meat products |
| 129: Allura Red | Cancer and tumours in mice, hyperactivity, hay fever, asthma, urticaria, allergic reactions in chemical-sensitive people
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Packet cake mix, packet trifle mix, jelly crystals, cereal, chocolate biscuits, sweets, condiments |
| 132: Indigotine | Asthma, hyperactivity, cancer, allergic reactions in chemical-sensitive people
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Biscuits, lollies, ice cream, baked goods, sweets, confectionery |
| 133: Brilliant Blue FCF | Cancer, malignant tumours, allergic reactions in chemical-sensitive people, asthma, hyperactivity
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Soft drink, canned processed peas, dairy products, gelatine, desserts, cereal, sweets |
| 142: Food Green S | Hyperactivity, asthma, skin rashes | Canned peas, mint jelly, packet bread-crumbs, packet cheesecake mix |
| 150: Caramel | Hyperactivity, gastrointestinal symptoms, kidney, liver and caecum enlargement in rats
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Biscuits, packet soup, beer, soft drink, whisky, pickled onions |
| 151: Brilliant Black BN | Asthma, hyperactivity, hay fever, cancer
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Blackcurrant cake mix, brown sauce |
| 155: Brown HT | Allergic reactions in asthmatics and aspirin sensitive people, hyperactivity, cancer
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Chocolate cake mix, chocolate biscuits |
| 160b: Annatto Extracts | Asthma, hyperactivity, urticaria, allergies, possibly cancer
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Margarine, butter, cheese, smoked fish, low fat spread |
| 200: Sorbic Acid | Allergic reactions in chemical-sensitive people, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity | Bread, cheese, soft drink, cheese spread, chicken, pickled onions
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| 210: Benzoic Acid | Asthma, hyperactivity, eye & skin irritation, allergic reactions in chemical-sensitive people
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Brewed soft drink, ice cream, cider, chewing gum, fruit juice, fruit drinks, margarine, liquid essences, cordial, flavoured syrup and topping |
| 211: Sodium Benzoate | Liver, kidney and neurotoxicity, asthma, gastric burning, hyperactivity, allergic reactions in aspirin and chemical-sensitive people |
Orange soft drink, relish, milk and meat products, baked goods, lollies |
| 212: Potassium benzoate | Asthma, skin irritation, nettle rash, allergic reactions in aspirin and chemical-sensitive people
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See 210: Benzoic acid |
| 213: Calcium Benzoate | See 212: Potassium benzoate
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See 210: Benzoic acid |
| 220: Sulphur Dioxide | Asthma, hyperactivity, headache, backache, gastric irritation, liver toxicity, destroys vitamin A in food, bronchitis, nausea
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Dried fruit, beer, fruit juice, gelatine, wine, soft drink, cordial jam, dairy, products, potato products, soup |
| 221-227: Sodium Sulphite, Sodium Bisulphite, Sodium Metabisulphite, Potassium Metabisulphite, Calcium, Sulphite, Calcium Hydrogen Sulphite | Asthma, anaphylaxis, nettle rash, swelling, diarrhoea, gastric irritation, nausea, hyperactivity, destroys vitamin B contents in foods
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Orange juice, uncooked prawns and shrimps, see also 220: Sulphur Dioxide |
| 228: Potassium Bisulphite | Liver and kidney irritation, gastric irritation, nausea, diarrhoea, skin rash, hyperactivity, asthma
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See 220: Sulphur Dioxide |
| 249-252 : Potassium Nitrite, Sodium Nitrite, sodium Nitrate, Potassium Nitrate | Asthma, cancer, headache, destroys red blood cells, breathing difficulties, dizziness, vomiting
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Cured meats, pressed and non-pressed corned meat, pickled meat, salted meat, manufactured meat, meat spread, bacon, sausages |
| 280: Propionic Acid | Behavioural changes, migraines, gastrointestinal disturbance, skin irritation
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Bread and other flour products, processed cheese |
| 281: Sodium Propionate | Migraine, allergic reactions
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Bread and other flout products |
| 282: Calcium Propionate | Hyperactivity, learning difficulties, aggression, fatigue, migraine
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Bread and other flour products, poultry stuffing |
| 283: Potassium Propionate | Migraine
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Bread and other flour products |
| 310: Propyl Gallate | Asthma, cancer, liver damage, contact dermatitis, allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people
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Dairy blend, salad oil, edible fats and oils, reduced fat spread, chewing gum, margarine |
| 311- :312Octyl Gallate, Dodecyl Gallate | Asthma, gastric and skin irritation, allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people | Dairy blend, edible fats and oils, reduced fat spread, margarine, dripping, salad oil |
| 319: t-Butylhydroquinone | Cancer, birth defects, allergic contact dermatitis | Dairy blend, salad oil, edible fats and oils, reduced fat spread, margarine
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| 320: Butylated Hydroxyanisole | Asthma, cancer, skin blistering, dermatitis, hyperactivity, extreme weakness, fatigue
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Instant mashed potato, margarine, chewing gum, ice cream, edible oils |
| 321: Butylated Hydroxytoluene | Asthma, cancer, skin and eye irritation, contact dermatitis, hyperactivity, allergic reactions in aspirin-sensitive people
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Chewing gum, fish products, fats and oils, potato flakes, breakfast cereals, pork sausages |
| 407: Carrageenan | Asthma, skin rashes, colon ulcers, cancer 9when degraded), do not give to infants and young children
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Ice cream, dessert mix, lollies, pastries, biscuits, thickened cream, chocolate milk and other products |
| 413: Tragacanth Gum | Asthma, skin rashes, hay fever, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal diseases, contact dermatitis
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Lollies, fruit juice cordial, fruit jelly, chutney salad dressing |
| 416: Karaya Gum | Asthma, gastrointestinal illnesses, hay fever, dermatitis
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ice cream, baked goods, gum-drops, lemon custard |
| 421: Mannitol | Hyperactivity, nausea, vomiting diarrhoea, kidney dysfunction, on the National Institutes of Health hazards list
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Chewing gum, jam, jellies, lollies, mints, frosting, carbohydrate modified foods |
| 553: Talc | Cancers (stomach and ovarian), respiratory problems
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Chocolate, lollies, polished rice, chewing gum
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| 621:
Monosodium L-Glutmamate MSG |
Asthma, hyperactivity, depression, irritability, mood changes, chest pain, nausea, numbness, migraine, headache, infertility, convulsions, abdominal discomfort, muscle spasms
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Packet soup, soy sauce, flavoured noodles, meats, malt extract, quick soup, pickles, sauce, gelatine, maltodextrin, flavoured potato chips, corn chips and snacks |
| 622: Monopotassium L-Glutamate | Problems in people with poor kidney function, headache, asthma, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps
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Meat, low-sodium salt substitute |
| 627: Disodium Guanylate | Asthmatics and aspirin-sensitive people should avoid, gout, hyperactivity, prohibited in or on foods intended for infants
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Foods with added artificial flavouring |
| E634: Calcium 5'-Ribonucleotides | Asthma, hyperactivity, itchy skin rashes up to 30hrs after eating
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Flavoured chips, instant noodles, party pies |
| 635: Disodium 5'-Ribonucleotides | Asthma, hyperactivity, itchy skin rashes up to 30 hrs after eating
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Flavoured chips, instant noodles, party pies |
| E905: Microcrystalline Wax | Inhibits absorption of fats and vitamins A, D, and E, eczema and skin irritations in chemical-sensitive people, laxative, carcinogenic
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Lollies, chewing gum, dried fruit, cake decoration, used in processing of yeast, castings for sausages and manufactured meats |
| 925: Chlorine | Reproductive problems, brain damage, destroys vitamin E, toxic to skin and lungs, carcinogenic, hyperactivity
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Whitening of flour, processed fish, vegetables and fruit (usage in flour is only premitted in Australia) |
| 926: Chlorine Dioxide | Bronchitis, pulmonary oedema, reproductive disorders, respiratory and developmental toxicity, destroys vitamin E, hyperactivity
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Cereal flours (usage only permitted in Australia) |
| 950: Acesulphame Potassium | May increase levels of cholesterol in blood, caused cancer and tumours in animals
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Artificial sweeteners, chewing gum, soft drink, canned fruit, baked goods |
| 951 & E951: Aspartame | Cancer, asthma, MS-like symptoms, heachache, hyperactivity, fatigue, anxiety, dizziness, migraine, memory loss, depression, insomnia, irritability, impotence, epilepsy, blindness, diabetes, neuralgia, seizures, brain damage, gastrointestinal upsets
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Artificial sweeteners, diet drinks, low-joule foods, low-joule chewing gum, lollies, brewed soft drinks, anything which is sugar free or without added sugar, in over 5,000 products |
| 952: Cyclamic Acid | Should be
avoided by those with heart, circulation or liver problems, causes bladder
cancer in rats, various skin conditions, migraine
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Artificially sweetened canned fruit, chewing gum, brewed soft drinks, low-joule foods |
| 954: Saccharin's | Headache, cancer, shrunken testicles, lowered testosterone levels, mutagen
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Artificial sweeteners, chewing gum, brewed soft drink, dietetic food |
| 1201: Polyvinylpyrrolidone | Cancer, lung and kidney damage, gas, faecal impaction, skin allergies, liver toxicity
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Vinegar, beer and wine manufacture, artificial sweetener |
| 1520: Propylene Glycol | Kidney damage, liver abnormalities, contact dermatitis, skin rashes, neurotoxicity, CNS depression, dry skin, on National Institutes of Health hazards list
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Baked goods, ice cream emulsifiers, lollies, icing, chocolate products, sweetened coconut, beverages, toppings |