Top 7 Food Additives to Avoid for Better Health

Although there are dozens of food additives and ingredients in our everyday grocery products (and the Trash Panda app flags them all for you), some stand out as especially concerning. These additives are linked to long-term health risks and are still widely used in processed foods across the U.S.

Whether you’re spring-cleaning your pantry, shopping for healthier foods, or just becoming more label-savvy, here are the top harmful food additives you’ll want to avoid along with our shopping list filled with healthier alternatives.

Although there are over 61 different names for sugar that can be listed on an ingredients label, high fructose corn syrup is one of the worst offenders. HFCS has been strongly linked to obesity, fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, and heart disease. Excess fructose from HFCS is metabolized by the liver, where it can trigger fat buildup and metabolic dysfunction. Major food sources include sodas, baked goods, candy, salad dressings, and even bread.

Artificial trans fats, often listed as “partially hydrogenated oils,” were banned by the FDA in 2018, but they can still show up in imported foods, restaurant frying oils, and shelf-stable baked goods. Even small amounts increase the risk of heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and systemic inflammation. To stay safe, always check the label because even small traces can add up.

Synthetic food dyes like Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Blue 2 are common in children’s cereals, candies, sodas, and even snack foods marketed as “healthy.” Multiple studies and FDA panel reviews acknowledge that artificial colors may worsen hyperactivity and attention-related behaviors in sensitive children. The European Union requires warning labels on foods containing these dyes, but in the U.S., they remain widely used.

A common additive found in many processed snack foods is Monosodium Glutamate, or MSG. MSG is used as a flavoring to enhance the umami flavor of foods like packaged ramen. MSG contains glutamate, which when consumed in high doses acts as an excitotoxin or neurotransmitter known to kill brain cells. It has been linked in studies to causing headaches in certain people, as well as other adverse symptoms like muscle tightness, numbness, tingling, weakness and flushing.

Derived from red seaweed, carrageenan is an additive used to thicken, emulsify, and preserve foods and drinks, and is often found in nut milks, coffee creamers, meat products, and yogurt. Studies have linked this food additive to gastrointestinal disease and inflammation which can lead to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It has also been shown in animal and test tube studies to increase blood sugar and even cause intestinal ulcers and growths.

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative added to processed foods to extend their shelf life. Commonly found in condiments, sodas, and other acidic foods like pickles or bottled lemon juice, when combined with vitamin C, light, or heat, sodium benzoate can form benzene, a known carcinogen. High intake has also been linked to hyperactivity in children in some studies. If over consumed, it can also cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and interfere with the body's intermediate metabolic processes.

Sodium nitrite preserves cured meats like bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, and sausages by preventing bacterial growth and giving meat its pink color. The problem: sodium nitrite can form nitrosamines, compounds strongly linked to colorectal, stomach, and pancreatic cancers. The World Health Organization classifies processed meats containing nitrites as a Group 1 carcinogen (the same category as smoking). Choosing “nitrite-free” products or fresh cuts of meat is a safer bet.

Food labels can be confusing, and these additives often hide behind technical terms or multiple names. With the Trash Panda app, scanning a barcode instantly reveals if a product contains high-risk additives so you can make informed swaps on the spot.