Important New Research on Food Additives

A study from French researchers reveals that combinations of food additives may pose greater health risks than previously understood. While most research examines additives in isolation, this study looked at how they interact when consumed together - as they are in real life.

The 8-year study followed 100,000 people and controlled for factors like age and BMI.

Key findings:

• Certain mixtures of emulsifiers, colors, and sweeteners were linked to higher Type 2 diabetes risk.

• Potential interactions between additive mixtures in broths, desserts, sodas, and other ultra-processed foods showed concerning results that suggest deleterious effects on health.

The findings from the study suggest that food additive mixtures "may be of interest to consider in safety assessments, and they support public health recommendations to limit nonessential additives."

As consumers, we often focus on individual ingredients, but this research suggests we should be more mindful of the cumulative effect of additive combinations in our diet.