Have you ever wondered what’s actually in your favorite cookies or that brightly colored drink your children enjoy? This page provides a clear look at food additives that have been recently regulated in the United States, prohibited in California, or banned in Europe.
Using data from the USDA (Oct 2024) database, we’ve analyzed thousands of products to show where these substances appear, why they’re regulated, and how they might affect our health. We found 58,512 products containing one of these additives, which represents about 13% of all products in the USDA database. We aim to present the facts in a straightforward, easy-to-understand format to help you make more confident choices next time you’re shopping.
The list works best on desktop. Scroll through or use the search bar to see if your favorite items made the list!
And remember: these products are all ultra-processed. Rather than focusing on a single additive, it’s more effective to take a step back and aim to reduce your overall consumption of ultra-processed foods—one product at a time!
Download GoCoCo and easily identify all banned additives and ultra-processed food.
Disclaimer: This list of products has been compiled using data from the USDA database and other reliable sources. While we strive for accuracy, errors or omissions may occur due to the complexity and variability of product formulations. The presence of additives in any product listed here is based on the best available information at the time of publication and may not reflect recent changes or reformulations by manufacturers. GoCoCo assumes no liability for any inaccuracies or for decisions made based on this information. We encourage consumers to verify ingredient labels directly on product packaging for the most up-to-date and accurate details.
On January 15, 2025, the FDA issued a comprehensive order to revoke authorizations for Red No. 3, an artificial red food dye. Manufacturers of foods and ingestible medications have until January 15, 2027, and January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products.
Historically used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soft drinks, BVO posed significant health concerns with long-term consumption. On July 3, 2024, the FDA revoked its previous regulations after collaborative studies with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed potential serious health risks.
On October 7, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Food Safety Act, making it the first U.S. law to prohibit four potentially harmful chemical additives in foods sold and produced within the state. These include:
A fifth chemical, titanium dioxide, was removed from the bill during the legislative process. Most of these additives had previously been banned by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), except for Red No. 3, which remained permitted in specific products like maraschino cherries.
California took an additional step by becoming the first state to prohibit school cafeterias from serving foods containing six artificial colors linked to health and behavioral concerns. On September 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2316, known as the California School Food Safety Act. The banned colors are:
These colors have been scrutinized for potential links to hyperactivity, attention issues, and other health concerns in children.
We've compared the legal status of additives throughout the US, with tighter legislation in California and other regulation in Europe. Here's a table to help you better understand the legal status of each food additive. Some have been banned in California, or Californian schools only, whilst others have been banned throughout the USA by the FDA. We also compare these with additive's legal status in the EU, where additive bans are implemented by the EFSA. Note all the additives marked with a cross have been banned.
✅Allowed, ❌ Banned, ⚠️ The food colorings Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6 are permitted in food products in Europe as long as they display the warning message: "May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children."
This is the legal status of the mentioned additives as of January 2025.
