European Union Forums

[Laurentine]

Many say that if the product contains many additives can cause certain diseases to develop in the body, like cancer. But still medicine allows to add them in food. How to understand this?

[bunny]

Many say that if the product contains many additives can cause certain diseases to develop in the body, like cancer. But still medicine allows to add them in food. How to understand this?

Аrtificial food additives have been linked not only with cancer, also digestive problems, neurological conditions in addition to ADHD, and diseases like heart disease or obesity. Even "natural" additives may be harmful in certain quantities (table salt, for ex.) or because of allergic reactions in certain individuals.
Recently research financed by Britain’s Food Standards Agency and published online by the British medical journal The Lancet, presented evidence that a mix of additives commonly found in children’s foods increases the mean level of hyperactivity. The team of researchers concluded that “the finding lends strong support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviors (inattention, impulsivity and overactivity) at least into middle childhood. That study examined the effect of artificial colors and a sodium benzoate preservative, and found both to be problematic for some children. Further studies are needed to find out whether there are other additives that could have a similar effect, and it is unclear whether some disturbances can also occur in mood and concentration in some adults.
Food additives are most harmful to children because they have unformed body.
Laurentine,We should take care of our bodies and the health of our children ourselves and reduce the use of such products containing harmful numbers (E100 — E199,E200 — E299,E300 — E399,,,,,

[bunny]

Maybe this is rhetorical question ? we can say the same about for ex. smoking ,,, it harms our health but production of cigarettes is thriving ,,,

[Riser]

Additives are chemicals added (intentionally or not) in foods during processing and production process in order to increase their flavor, taste, to improve their appearance and prolong their shelf life. There are several categories of food additives which serve different purposes: artificial sweeteners (sweeteners), coloring agents, acidity regulators (they either increase or decrease the acidity of the product), the correction of taste and smell, preservatives (late alteration of food), antioxidants (reduced food oxidation in air) and many others. Food additives are marked by the letter E, which means that are approved for use in Europe (after being tested at least 6 years).

[Peach]

Here is a list of good and bad additives : are sugar, salt, vinegar (of the classics), and lecithin (a natural antioxidant), riboflavin (E300), natural ascorbic acid (E440), mannitol and sweets, tocopherols (vitamin E, with proven antioxidant).
The list of E- hazardous contains substances with toxic and even possible carcinogenic for the body, such as sodium glutamate (neurotoxic), benzoic acid (E320), potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, Erythrosine (cause genetic mutations) amarantul (cancer), sunset yellow (which is found in mustard, jam and cause thyroid cancer), tartrazine, saccharin (possibly bladder cancer).

[tricker]

The roles of food additives: Maintaining product consistency, Improving or maintaining long nutritional values, preventing or retarding spoilage of products, Correcting acidity and alkalinity of foods, Bringing color and enhance flavor

[M.Helen]

Many of bad additives are used in juices as Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and so on. Ana these are drunk both, by children and grown ups. Please stop doing this for the sake of your health.

[Steven]

I saw everyday in fast foods how parents buy them that "poison" and children drink it with big pleasure. So this is the parents' fault. They want to satisfy children's will but forget that it becomes a habit... so, starting from little age, parents must forbid them do drink it and must refuse to buy, saying that is not good.

[Laurentine]

So I conclude that are good and bad additives, that improve or maintain products but are inoffensive for body and those who damage our cells. All of you posted very useful information and i want also to add that : a special category of additives is which contains substances that are not intentionally added by the manufacturer, but appear in the finished product as a result of processes of preparation and processing. Their quantities are, however, very low.

[Peach]

People with a history of allergy are advised to carefully check the label on products containing such additives usually, such as dried fruits, beer, wine, wine vinegar, cakes, to avoid triggering new reactions. Also, people with various food intolerance (lactose, sucrose) should consult the product packaging before buying to avoid any unpleasant events.

[Lenin666]

[tricker]

:nonnon

You know Lenin ... may you say no... but still, you, I, all if us eat products which include food additives. Maybe not every day, but still do, like drinking Cola, or eating Fast Foods products.. so... we are guilty of not taking carry of our health.