Guide to Additives
I could devote a whole website (as many have) to listing all the artificial additives that have been suspected or found to cause unwanted reactions and side effects but instead have tried to give you a general idea of how bad these additive can be by just including some of the most common below. My eldest son continually suffered with rashes and breathing difficulties before a friend lent me a Sue Dengate book called “Fed Up” (find out more by visiting www.fedup.com.au). By eliminating “nasty” additives my whole family’s health has noticeably improved.
It has also been suggested that a “toxic build-up”, from years of eating products with artificial colours and preservatives, can be the cause of weight gain and may even interfere with conventional weight loss efforts. So by eating and using Organic and other chemical free products, not only are you contributing to your health and helping the environment but you can also lose weight!
| Additive Number | Food Additive Name | Commonly Used in | Common side effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102 (colour) | Tartrazine | Drinks, cakes, snacks, ice cream, sweets | Asthma, hyperactivity |
| 110 (colour) | Sunset yellow | Drinks, biscuits, sweets, ice cream, pkt soups | Allergies, hyperactivity |
| 122 (colour) | Azorubine, carmoisine | Pkt soups, sauces, jam, jelly | Asthma, hyperactivity |
| 132 (colour) | Indigotine, indigo carmine | Ice cream, biscuits, tablets & capsules | Nausea, skin rashes, allergies, high blood pressure |
| 210 (preservative) | Benzoic acid | Confectionery, cheeses, baked goods | Asthma, hyperactivity, reacts with 222 |
| 220 (preservative) | Sulphur dioxide | Dried fruit, beer, wine, soft drinks | Asthma, hyperactivity |
| 222 (preservative) | Sodium bisulphite | Drinks, juices, cordials, wine, beer | Asthma, destroys vitamin B1, hyperactivity |
| 250 (preservative) | Sodium Nitrite | Sandwich meats, cheeses | Hyperactivity, potentially carcinogenic |
| 282 (preservative) |
Calcium propionate | Bread | Headaches, stomach aches, rashes, nasal congestion, depression, poor concentration, irritability |
| 310 (antioxidant) | Propyl gallate | oils margarine, salad dressings | Gastric and skin irritant |
| 319 (antioxidant) | Tert-butyl hydroquinone | Fats, oils, margarine, snacks, potato chips | Nausea, delirium |
| 320 (antioxidant) | Butylated hydroxyanisole | Fried snacks, soft drinks, margarine, chewing gum, oils | Hyperactivity, asthma, allergies, increases cholesterol levels |
| 407 (thickener & emulsifier) | Carageenan | Ice creams, jelly, cake decorations, cheese, salad dressings | Allergies, intolerances, linked to cancer |
| 621 (flavour enhancer) | Monosodim Glutamate (MSG) | Prepacked meals, snacks, Chinese cooking, potato chips | Hyperactivity, asthma, adverse reactions, allergies |
| 635 (flavour enhancer) | Disodium 5’ ribonucleotide | Flavoured crisps, instant noodles, party pies, pkt soups | Skin rashes, not easily broken down by body |
| 951 (sweetener) | aspartame | Diet drinks, diabetic confectionery, ice cream, low joule products | Allergies, headaches, nervous disorders, depression |