Learning to be a Label Detective is a skill you must have to protect your body from a host of hidden, unhealthy ingredients. I jokingly call it the "Sherlock Holmes of the grocery store" — but honestly, your health is no laughing matter. This Sherlock doesn’t have a pipe, but sometimes I do need magnifying glasses to catch the sneaky ingredients hiding in plain sight.
Becoming a "Label Detective" has completely changed the way I shop for food. The list of harmful ingredients is long — too long to memorize — but you don’t have to know them all. If you focus on eating real, whole foods that your great-grandma would recognize, you’ll already be ahead of the game.
Here’s a closer look at the most concerning additives, sweeteners, and coloring found in packaged foods — and why they should be on your “Do Not Eat” list.
🚫Labels Detective: Food Additives to Avoid
While the FDA considers most of these additives to be "safe," growing evidence suggests otherwise — especially when consumed in large quantities. Here are some of the worst offenders:
Sodium nitrate: Added to processed meats to stop bacterial growth. Linked to cancer in humans. (Worst Offender)
Sulfites: Used to keep prepared foods fresh. Can cause breathing difficulties in those sensitive to the ingredient.
Azodicarbonamide: Used in bagels and buns. Can cause asthma.
Potassium bromate: Added to breads to increase volume. Linked to cancer in humans.
Propyl gallate: Added to fat-containing products. Linked to cancer in humans
BHA/BHT: A fat preservative, used in foods to extend shelf life. Linked to cancerous tumor growth.
Propylene glycol: Better known as antifreeze. Thickens dairy products and salad dressing. Deemed ‘generally’ safe by FDA.
Butane: Put in chicken nuggets to keep them tasting fresh. A known carcinogen.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Flavor enhancer that can cause headaches. Linked in animal studies to nerve damage, heart problems and seizures.
Disodium inosinate: In snack foods. Contains MSG.
Disodium guanylate: Also used in snack foods, and contains MSG.
Enriched flour: Used in many snack foods. A refined starch that is made from toxic ingredients.
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH): Geneticially-engineered version of natural growth hormone in cows. Boosts milk production in cows. Contains high levels of IGF-1, which is thought cause various types of cancer.
Refined vegetable oil: Includes soybean oil, corn oil, safflower oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. High in omega-6 fats, which are thought to cause heart disease and cancer.
Sodium benzoate: Used as a preservative in salad dressing and carbonated beverages. A known carcinogen and may cause damage our DNA.
Brominated vegetable oil: Keeps flavor oils in soft drinks suspended. Bromate is a poison and can cause organ damage and birth defects. Not required to be listed on food labels.
Propyl gallate: Found in meats, popcorn, soup mixes and frozen dinners. Shown to cause cancer in rats. Banned in some countries. Deemed safe by FDA.
Olestra: Fat-like substance that is unabsorbed by the body. Used in place of natural fats in some snack foods. Can cause digestive problems, and also not healthy for the heart.
Carrageenan: Stabilizer and thickening agent used in many prepared foods. Can cause ulcers and cancer.
Polysorbate 60: A thickener that is used in baked goods. Can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Camauba wax: Used in chewing gums and to glaze certain foods. Can cause cancer and tumors.
Magnesium sulphate: Used in tofu, and can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Chlorine dioxide: Used in bleaching flour. Can cause tumors and hyperactivity in children.
Paraben: Used to stop mold and yeast forming in foods. Can disrupt hormones in the body, and could be linked to breast cancer.
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose: Used as a thickener in salad dressings. Could cause cancer in high quantities.
Aluminum: A preservative in some packaged foods that can cause cancer.
🚫 Labels Detective: Artificial Sweeteners to Avoid
Artificial sweeteners are marketed as “healthier” alternatives to sugar, but they often come with side effects. Here’s a quick list of the ones to avoid:
Saccharin: Carcinogen found to cause bladder cancer in rats. (Worst Offender)
Aspartame: An excitotoxin and thought to be a carcinogen. Can cause dizziness, headaches, blurred vision and stomach problems.
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS): Sweetener made from corn starch. Made from genetically-modified corn. Causes obesity, diabetes, heart problems, arthritis and insulin resistance.
Acesulfame potassium: Used with other artificial sweeteners in diet sodas and ice cream. Linked to lung and breast tumors in rats.
Sucralose: Splenda. Can cause swelling of liver and kidneys and a shrinkage of the thymus gland.
Agave nectar: Sweetener derived from a cactus. Contains high levels of fructose, which causes insulin resistance, liver disease and inflammation of body tissues.
Bleached starch: Can be used in many dairy products. Thought to be related to asthma and skin irritations.
Tert butylhydroquinone: Used to preserve fish products. Could cause stomach tumors at high doses.
🚫Labels Detective: Artificial Food Coloring to Avoid
Food dyes are used to make food look pretty, but at what cost? Many are linked to behavioral issues in children and even cancer. Here are some to watch out for:
Annatto: Food coloring that can cause hyperactivity in children and asthma.
Bixin: Food coloring that can cause hyperactivity in children and asthma.
Blue #1: Used in bakery products, candy and soft drinks. Can damage chromosomes and lead to cancer.
Blue #2: Used in candy and pet food beverages. Can cause brain tumors
Brown HT: Used in many packaged foods. Can cause hyperactivity in children, asthma and cancer.
Caramel coloring: In soft drinks, sauces, pastries and breads. When made with ammonia, it can cause cancer in mice. Food companies not required to disclose if this ingredient is made with ammonia.
Citrus red #1: Sprayed on oranges to make them look ripe. Can damage chromosomes and lead to cancer.
Citrus red #2: Used to color oranges. Can cause cancer if you eat the peel.
Green #3: Used in candy and beverages. May cause bladder tumors.
Norbixin: Food coloring that can cause hyperactivity in children and asthma.
Orange B: A food dye that is used in hot dog and sausage casings. High doses are bad for the liver and bile duct.
Red #2: A food coloring that may cause both asthma and cancer.
Red #3: A carcinogen. that is added to cherry pie filling, ice cream and baked goods. May cause nerve damage and thyroid cancer.
Red #40: Found in many foods to alter color. All modern food dyes are derived from petroleum. A carcinogen that is linked to cancer in some studies. Also can cause hyperactivity in children. Banned in some European countries. (Worst Offender)
Yellow #5: Used in desserts, candy and baked goods.Thought to cause kidney tumors, according to some studies.
Yellow #6: A carcinogen used in sausage, beverages and baked goods. Thought to cause kidney tumors, according to some studies.
Conclusion
Packaged foods are made to have long shelf lives and look pretty on the store shelf. But food’s job isn’t to "look pretty" — it’s to nourish your body. Why take the risk with additives, chemicals, and artificial colors? The good news is you can avoid most of these dangers by sticking to whole, natural foods.
If it doesn’t need a label (like fresh fruits and veggies), it’s probably a safer choice. And when you do buy packaged food, follow these golden rules:
✅ Avoid fast foods
✅ Avoid soda, sugary drinks & juice
✅ Eat more fruits, vegetables & grains (organic if possible)
✅ Choose hormone-free meat & dairy (organic or raw if possible)
✅ Be a Label Detective — know what you’re eating and where it comes from!
🔥 Take Action: Your Health Deserves It!
You don’t have to do this alone! If you’re ready to feel empowered, energized, and confident about the foods you’re eating, I invite you to schedule a Self-Sabotage Breakthrough Call.
During our call, I’ll help you:
🕵️♀️ Learn how to spot hidden dangers on food labels.
💪 Identify which foods are sabotaging your health.
🍎 Create a personalized, step-by-step plan for clean, natural eating.
➡️ Click here to schedule your call and take the first step toward becoming your own Label Detective. Your health is worth it!
Hope to connect with you soon! ❤️
To your thriving health,
Gwen Krehbiel
Certified Natural Health Professional
Certified SHAPE ReClaimed Practitioner
Certified Facial Analysis Practitioner
Certified ZYTO Practitioner
Citation:
Public Health Analysis (Ed.). (n.d.). 50 jawdroppingly Toxic Food Ingredients & artificial additives to avoid. MPHProgramsList.com 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://mphprogramslist.com/50-jawdroppingly-toxic-food-additives-to-avoid/
Medical disclaimer: This information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment. Medical conditions require medical care.
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