Food Additives to Avoid While FDA generally recognizes most additives on this list as ‘safe,’ there are growing concerns about the safety of many common food additives, if consumed in large quantities. Sodium nitrate: Added to processed meats to stop bacterial growth. Linked to cancer in humans. (Worst Offender) Sulfites: Used to keep prepared foods fresh. Can cause breathing difficulties in those sensitive to the ingredient. Azodicarbonamide: Used in bagels and buns. Can cause asthma. Potassium bromate: Added to breads to increase volume. Linked to cancer in humans. Propyl gallate: Added to fat-containing products. Linked to cancer in humans BHA/BHT: A fat preservative, used in foods to extend shelf life. Linked to cancerous tumor growth. Propylene glycol: Better known as antifreeze. Thickens dairy products and salad dressing. Deemed ‘generally’ safe by FDA. Butane: Put in chicken nuggets to keep them tasting fresh. A known carcinogen. Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Flavor enhancer that can cause headaches. Linked in animal studies to nerve damage, heart problems and seizures. Disodium inosinate: In snack foods. Contains MSG. Disodium guanylate: Also used in snack foods, and contains MSG. Enriched flour: Used in many snack foods. A refined starch that is made from toxic ingredients. Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH): Geneticially-engineered version of natural growth hormone in cows. Boosts milk production in cows. Contains high levels of IGF-1, which is thought cause various types of cancer. Refined vegetable oil: Includes soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. High in omega-6 fats, which are thought to cause heart disease and cancer. Sodium benzoate: Used as a preservative in salad dressing and carbonated beverages. A known carcinogen and may cause damage our DNA. Brominated vegetable oil: Keeps flavor oils in soft drinks suspended. Bromate is a poison and can cause organ damage and birth defects. Not required to be listed on food l