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Additives found in cold cuts, ice cream, bread, other processed food cause concern

September 28, 2020

“Reading nutrition labels on packaged foods is probably high up on most nutritionists’ lists of healthy eating tips. But it’s just as important to check out the ingredients list.

“It’s a good way to judge the quality of a food,” says Charlotte Vallaeys, senior policy analyst and a nutritionist at Consumer Reports. “And a long list of food additives is a sign that a food is highly processed.”

According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are more than 3,000 additives used in foods to — among other things — enhance flavor, texture or shelf life. They range from simple ingredients such as sugar or salt to chemical compounds with unpronounceable names.

You certainly don’t need to avoid them all, but even among additives that the FDA has deemed safe, there is some evidence that not all are completely benign. We’ve taken a look at the latest research on some food additives that have recently sparked some controversy or concern.”

Read the full article at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/food-additives-to-avoid/2020/09/25/bca05e18-d73b-11ea-9c3b-dfc394c03988_story.html

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A new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showing rising obesity rates over the last decade and recent data from the Economic Research Service (E.R.S.) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture showing declining sweetener consumption during the same period has provided fodder for the Sugar Association to question whether sugar should be the primary target in the fight against obesity.

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