Food Additives by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or improve its taste and appearance. Some are natural, others synthetic. There is a concern that some of the synthetic food additives may be causing untoward health effects, particularly in children. Some research suggests that certain food additives may increase the tendency for ADHD. For food coloring information.

Traditional food additives
Many food additives have been known for hundreds or thousands of years. For instance, preserving food by pickling (with vinegar), salting, as with bacon, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as in some wines.

Food Additives
Sodium benzoate is found in Coca-Cola, Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi, and in many fruit drinks.

Food colorings -- sunset yellow (E110), found in fruity drinks; carmoisine (E122), a red coloring often added to jams; ponceau 4R (E124), a red food coloring; tartrazine (E102), found in lollipops and carbonated drinks; quinoline yellow (E104), a food coloring; and allura red AC (E129), and orange-red food dye.