%20(1).jpg)
State Assembly member Jesse Gabriel of Woodland Hills is fighting to prohibit the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of any food products in California containing Red Dye No. 3, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, or Propyl Paraben.
All these additives have been restricted or banned in Europe for years.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - the U.S. government agency responsible for monitoring the safety of food additives - is the governing body responsible for the regulation of food intended for human consumption.
Companies looking to incorporate new food additives into their products are required to conduct appropriate testing and obtain authorization from the FDA's expert committee before their use is approved. Certain food ingredients, including those categorized as 'generally recognized as safe' (GRAS) by scientific experts, do not require pre-market FDA approval since they have supposedly been reviewed in the past.
This is a food additive used as a coloring agent that provides opacity and a white appearance to food. It was rejected by the scientific committee of EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority. The study concluded the following:
"Based on all the evidence available, a concern for genotoxicity could not be ruled out, and given the many uncertainties, the Panel concluded that E 171 can no longer be considered as safe when used as a food additive."
But we can still find it on our kitchen shelves today in candy, chewing gum and pre-prepared dishes like freezer aisle pizzas such as…
- Altoids
- Great Value Macaronni & Cheese
- Totinos Pizza Rolls
- Old El Paso Taco Sauce
- Snickers, MnMs, Twix & Skittles
- Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls
- Kraft Fat Free Shredded Cheese
This is a food additive used as a red dye. Despite being banned in 1990 for its carcinogenic properties in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, it is still legally permitted for use in food products. Especially in candies marketed towards children!
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) lodged a complaint letter with the FDA, citing a series of studies that confirm the harmful effects of the dye and urging for its ban in food products. In Europe this colorant is only allowed in some products derived from cherries.
This additive is used primarily to help emulsify citrus-flavored soft drinks, preventing separation during distribution and is banned in Europe due to its tendency to accumulate in the body. Studies suggest that its consumption could lead to heart problems and decreased fertility. However, this product is classified as a GRAS in the U.S.
This is an additive used as a flour enhancer. It was banned in Europe in 1990, in Canada in 1994 and in South America. Even in California, products containing bromates must include a warning label indicating their presence in flour.
Is a preservative additive recognized as GRAS in the United States. However, the EFSA holds a different stance and considers this additive unsafe for daily consumption due to research indicating potential side effects on the sexual and reproductive health of rats.
These are all additives typically found in ultra-processed foods! (exempting the preservative one!)
The base ingredients of ultra-processed products are usually of poor nutritional quality and they add these masking additives to make them irresistible.
When we talk about ultra-processed products, we are referring to those that seemingly contain a whole encyclopedia entry written on their label of ingredients.. These products are usually high in sugar, poor-quality fats, and sodium.
Thanks to the NOVA classification, a system created by the Brazilian scientist Carlos Monteiro, we can determine four degrees of food processing:
Ultra-processed products are usually subjected to more aggressive procedures that decrease their nutritional quality and tend to be products subject to intense marketing campaigns (frozen pizza, powdered soup, instant noodles, candies, cookies, ice cream, hot dogs, chocolate...).
Not only do ultra-processed foods contain high amounts of added sugars, fats, and salt, they are often designed to be both extremely tasty and addictive.
Research shows that they can activate reward centers in the brain, leading to cravings and compulsive eating.
Over time, consuming ultra-processed foods regularly can lead to changes in the brain's reward system and make it more difficult to resist cravings. This can contribute to the development of a cycle of addiction, where the individual continues to consume these foods despite knowing that they are harmful to their health.
Research has also shown that addiction to ultra-processed foods can have similar effects on the brain as addiction to drugs such as cocaine or heroin. This includes changes in dopamine levels, which can lead to a growing tolerance for the food and a need for increasing amounts of that food in order to achieve the same pleasurable effects.
According to several studies, eating a diet high in ultra-processed foods has been linked to a higher risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
This is because the ingredients used to produce these products are of low nutritional quality. Products rich in trans fat, salt and sugar increase sales.
And... The high consumption of ultra-processed foods leads to substituting the nutritious and natural foods we should be consuming with those that can contribute to poor health.
If instead of cookies we would eat a piece of fruit, we would not only omit the negative consequences of sweets, but we would also add extra nutrients to our diet.
When you start eating ultra-processed foods on a regular basis, you're probably not as interested in eating natural foods. That’s because a high intake of salt, sugar and the infamous additive monosodium glutamate (MSG) over-activates taste thresholds. Over time, unprocessed food without any additives may start to seem bland and unappetizing, leading to disinterest and rejection...
You’re not creating a healthy mindset for yourself! It's also important to remember that a healthy diet is not about perfection or deprivation. It's okay to enjoy the occasional treat or indulge in your favorite ultra-processed food from time to time. The key is to find a balance that works for you and supports your overall health and well-being.
To manage this, you should avoid buying ultra-processed foods in your daily routine to resist temptation!
We hope that you learnt more in this article! See you soon. 😜
Article written by Laura Guinovart Martín, certified Dietitian and Nutritionist; Specialized in TCA, Obesity and Food Development and Design; Nº Col:CAT002123
