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Food Additives A-B Acesulfame-K - This substance was approved by the FDA in 1988. It is supposedly 200 times sweeter than sugar. Two names it is sold under are "Sweet One" and "Sunette." The chemical structure of this substance is similar to saccharin, which is carcinogenic. Some of the studies on this product show that it is safe as it passes through the body unchanged, while other studies have found that rats fed this substance developed more tumors than those that were not. It also raised the blood cholesterol of rats that were diabetic. The FDA considers it safe, but consumer protection groups feel that there is need for additional testing. Alginates - Ammonium alginate, Calcium alginate, Potassium alginate. These substances come from seaweed. When wet, they become gelatinous. They are used commercially to keep candies, cakes , cookies, and bread moist as well as to keep ice cream creamy. Other uses for these products are to remove mineral particles from cheese and cheese products, as well as sugar-free jams and jellies. These substances are considered to be safe. Ammoniated Glycyrrhizin - This is a licorice flavored additive that is used in root beer, candies, and other items that taste of wintergreen. The FDA considers it safe, but it can raise blood pressure, cause fatigue, headaches, and edema. Foods with this ingredient may have warning labels attached in the future. Ammonium Chloride - This additive is used to feed the yeast used in baking and also to condition the doughs. In doses as small as 0.5- to 1.0- grams it can induce nausea. It can acidify the urine and also act as an expectorant. The FDA considers this substance safe. Bleaching Agents - These are substances that are used to whiten flour. Although they are used for other things this is their major use. Benzoyl Peroxide is considered one of the safest and it is probably the most widely used . This substance has been around since the early 1900's and has been extensively tested and is considered harmless. Although it does destroy vitamin E, sources state that there is very little vitamin E in flour. My interpretation of this is that none of it stays with the flour??? Is this the same substance used in some OTC acne medications? Another bleaching agent would be Acetone Peroxide. It is popular, but there should be more testing done on this substance. Brominated Vegetable Oil - This product is rated as safe when only 15 parts per million (PPM) are added, by the FDA. This is a blend of bromine and corn, cottonseed, olive, or sesame oil. It is used to stabilize fruit-flavored soft drinks. Consumer groups want more testing because bromine collects in human body tissue. In a Canadian study, lab rats that were fed BVO supplemented rations for a period of 80 days, were found to have suffered heart, kidney, liver, and thyroid damage.
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