Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide to What's Safe & What's Not - Softcover

Farlow, Christine Hoza

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0963563548 ISBN 13: 9780963563545

Publisher: Keep It Simple Secrets for Health, 2000

Synopsis

Lists common food additives and offers information about possible side effects and safety concerns to consider when selecting healthy food.

About this title

About the Author

The study of nutrition has been a passion for Dr. Christine Farlow since 1975. Before she ever earned the title of doctor, people were coming to her unsolicited and asking for nutritional advice. It just seemed natural that the next step would be to become a doctor and make it her business to counsel patients in nutrition. Dr. Farlow is a Doctor of Chiropractic with a specialty in Nutrition. She has been counseling patients in Nutrition and teaching Nutrition classes since 1984. Her books evolved out of her teaching and her nutritional counseling. These were the tools she found that people needed most to get started toward eating healthfully and to make healthy eating a lifetime habit.

From the Back Cover

This Book Is A Must For Anyone Who Eats

You will discover how quick and easy it is to tell if the food you're buying contains dangerous ingredients.

I recommend everyone carry this with them in their purse or glove compartment for handy reference. - Lendon H. Smith, M.D., Feed Your Kids Right

A great pocket resource in understanding labeleze. - Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Unsafe At Any Meal

Dr. Christine Farlow has been counseling patients and teaching classes in nutrition since 1984. She has helped thousands of people improve their health through nutrition.

Use this book as your constant grocery shopping companion. You'll never again wonder about the safety of the ingredients listed on the package. You'll know.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
The codes below are to the left of each additive and indicate the safety of the additive.
*GRAS - Generally Recognized As Safe by the FDA.
*FDA approved colorant
S There is no known toxicity. The additive appears to be safe.
A The additive may cause allergic reactions.
C Caution is advised. The additive may be unsafe, poorly tested, or used in foods we eat too much of.
C1 Caution is advised for certain groups in the population, such as pregnant women, infants, persons with high blood pressure, kidney problems, etc.
X The additive is unsafe or very poorly tested.

The numbers below appear after some of the additives and indicate the purpose for which the additive is used, and the kinds of products in which you might find that additive.
1. acidifier - used in baked goods, candy, cheese, desserts, jelly, soft drinks.
2. alkali - used in baked goods, canned vegetables, chocolate, dairy products, frozen desserts, olives, tomato products.
3. antibrowning agent - used on fruits and vegetables.
4. anticaking agent - used in baking powder, nondairy creamer, salt, soft drink powders.
5. antifoaming agent - used in baked goods, beer, coffee creamer, fruit juices, jelly, dairy products, wine.
6. antimycotic agent - used in baked goods, cheese, dried fruit, jelly, processed meats, syrup.
7. antioxidant - used in bacon, baked goods, breakfast bars, butter, candy, canned fruits and vegetables, cream, fried foods, gelatin desserts, margarine, nuts, peanut butter, powdered soups, oil, salad dressing, shortening, spices, whipped toppings, foods containing artificial color or flavor.
8. antistaling agent - used in baked goods.
9. artificial flavoring - used in processed foods.
10. artificial color - used in baked goods, butter, cereal, candy, cheese, gelatin desserts, icing, maraschino cherries, margarine, meat, oranges, pasta, pudding, soft drinks.
11. artificial sweetener - used in processed foods.
12. binder - used in processed foods, snack foods.
13. bleaching agent - used in baked goods, cheese, fats, flour, oils.
14. buffer - used in baked goods, canned vegetables, cereals, cheese, chocolate, dessert mixes, jelly, ham, ice cream, pasta, soft drinks, syrups.
15. clarifying agent - used in beer, soft drinks, vinegar, wine.
16. color preservative - used in processed foods.
17. crystallization inhibitor - used in oil and sugar products.
18. dough conditioner - used in baked goods.
19. emulsifier - used in baked goods, cake mixes, candy, chocolate, dairy products, ice cream, margarine, nondairy creamer, peanut butter, pickles, processed meats, shortening, toppings.
20. enzymes - used in cheese, fats, hydrolyzed protein.

FOOD ADDITIVES
* C A Acacia gum - 17, 19, 46; may cause skin rashes; not adequately tested.
X Acesulfame-K - 11, "Sunette"; may cause low blood sugar attacks; causes cancer, elevated cholesterol in lab animals.
X Acesulfame-potassium - same as acesulfame-K.
C A Acetal - may cause breathing difficulty, heart problems, high blood pressure; central nervous system depressant.
* C Acetaldehyde - 9; irritant to mucous membranes, central nervous system depressant, large doses may cause death.
C Acetate - 27; may cause stomach irritation in large amounts.
* C Acetic acid - 1, 27; may cause gastrointestinal distress, skin rashes, eye irritation.
* S Acetoin - 27.
C Acetone peroxide - 13, 34, not adequately tested.
* S Acetyl methylcarbinol - 27.
C A Acetylated mono- and diglycerides - 19, see mono- & diglycerides.
* S Aconitic acid - 27.
* S Adiptic acid - 1, 27, 40.
* C A Agar-agar - 17, 32, 46, 51; may cause flatulence, bloating; may have laxative effect.
C Aguamiel - 49; derived from cactus; use sparingly.
S A Albumins - 46, 50, 51; may be egg, milk based.
* S Alfalfa - 27.
* C1 Alginates - 17, 28, 46, 50; possible pregnancy complications.
* C1 Alginic acid - 5, 46; may cause birth defects.
C Alitame - 11; related to aspartame; not adequately tested; awaiting approval.
X A Alkyl gallate - may cause liver problems.
C Alkyl sulfates - may cause skin rashes.
* S Allspice - 27.
* C Allyl isothiocyanate - 27; toxic; may cause skin problems.
C A Allyl sulfide - may cause breathing difficulty, kidney, liver problems.
* C Almond oil - 27; very toxic if not distilled to remove hydrocyanic acid; nontoxic if distilled.
C Aloe extract - may cause gastrointestinal distress, kidney problems.
* S A Alpha tocopherol - vitamin E; may be corn, peanut, soy based; see alpha tocopherol acetate.
S Alpha tocopherol acetate - vitamin E; large doses may be harmful if high blood pressure; see nutrient additives.
C Alum - see aluminum.
C Aluminum - may be associated with senility, memory problems, kidney problems, neurological problems, mouth ulcers, mineral malabsorption; not adequately tested.
* C Aluminum ammonium sulfate - 4; may cause vomiting; see aluminum, ammonium.
* C Aluminum calcium silicate - 4; see aluminum.
C Aluminum chloride - see aluminum.
* C Aluminum hydroxide - 33; may cause constipation; see aluminum.
C Aluminum nicotinate - may cause gastrointestinal distress; see aluminum, niacin.
* C Aluminum potassium sulfate - may cause gastrointestinal distress; see aluminum.
* C Aluminum silicate - 51; has caused death in lab animals; see aluminum.
* C Aluminum sodium sulfate - see aluminum.
* C Aluminum sulfate - see aluminum.
C Amasake - 49; may contain aspergillus oryzae, a suspected carcinogen.
X A Ammonia - corrosive; toxic if inhaled; eye and mucous membrane irritant; can burn eyes and skin; can cause permanent damage; may cause mouth ulcers, nausea, kidney, liver problems.
* C Ammonium alginate - see ammonia, alginates.
* C Ammonium bicarbonate - 33; may cause gastrointestinal distress; see ammonia.
* C Ammonium carbonate - see ammonia.
C Ammonium carrageenan - see ammonia, carrageenan.
C A Ammonium caseinate - 50; see ammonia, casein.
* X Ammonium chloride - may cause gastrointestinal distress; toxic if ingested in large amounts; may cause irreversible damage; see ammonia.
* C Ammonium citrate - 23, 26, 44; see ammonia.

Edition details

• Publisher: Keep It Simple Secrets for Health
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0963563548
• ISBN 13: 9780963563545
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 72