Family Encyclopedia >> Sports

5 food additives to avoid

1 – Aspartame (E951).

A synthetic sweetener, it is accused of causing no less than 92 "symptoms", the worst consequence being premature labor. Present in the majority of chewing gum, light sodas or 0% fruit yoghurts. To avoid it:do not buy light products.

2 – Acesulfame-K (E950).

Never used alone, this other synthetic sweetener is often combined with aspartame or its natural substitutes (such as stevia in Teisseire 0% syrup). It is suspected of being responsible for cancers and leukaemias. To avoid this, we choose 100% stevia organic products.

3 – Monosodium glutamate or MSG (E621).

Flavor enhancer, it is used in Maggi Cubes, ready meals, crisps, aperitif cakes, surimi sticks and… certain frozen vegetables. Accused of destroying our neurons, it would aggravate cancers. We avoid it by eliminating ready-made junk food.

4 – Tartrazine (E102).

A yellow dye used to "look pretty", in instant soups, sweets (except Haribo)... We could therefore do without it, especially since it is capable of making us hyperactive, asthmatic, causing us to spin hives, rhinitis… and maybe even cancer (again!). We prefer "dye-free" products.

5 – Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetracetate or EDTA (E385).

Preventing oxidation, it is found in mayonnaise and canned or frozen vegetables and shellfish. The risk:abdominal or muscle cramps or blood clotting disorders. We prefer fresh products.

To find out more:"Food additives, danger", by Corinne Gouget, Ed. Chariot d'Or, and the free "Shopwise" app:just scan the barcode of the product to find out everything about it!