Want Some Yoga Mat with That?
Pass the yoga mat sandwich and the candies made with beetles, please! While this might sound bizarre, there are many ingredients in the food we eat every day that you don't know of, especially in processed snacks, desserts, fast food, and sweets. Sure, they might taste good when we take a bite, but there's reason to exercise caution—and you may want to think twice before you open your next bag of chips. From sand to human hair, here are 20 harmful (and hurl-inducing) ingredients that could be lurking in your food.
1. Yellow 5
Also known as tartrazine, yellow 5 is a synthetic food dye found in breakfast cereals, processed pastries, brightly colored sodas, candies, pancake mixes, pasta, and others. Made from petroleum byproducts, it has been linked to a range of health issues, from hyperactivity in children to cancer.
2. High-Fructose Corn Syrup
High-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, is a sweetener used in many sugary treats, such as candy, juice, and soda, as well as baked goods, crackers, jams, sauces, and more. While our bodies easily break down glucose, fructose requires many more steps and can accumulate if consumed in excess. Over time, it can lead to an increased risk of fatty liver disease, diabetes, cancer, and other serious health conditions.
3. Aspartame
You may have seen aspartame in the ingredient list of many packaged sweets, and the reason it's used over regular sugar is because it's about 200 times sweeter, so very few amounts are needed. It's also a low-calorie alternative. However, studies have linked aspartame to not only cancerous diseases but neurological disorders as well, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
4. Red 40
Another synthetic food colorant often found in snacks and packaged goods is red 40, such as chips, sports drinks, candies, and more. Just like yellow 5, it's also made from petroleum byproducts and can cause behavioral changes in children and may lead to tumor growths in the digestive tract.
5. Polysorbate 80
Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier used in cleaning products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. A thick yellow liquid, it's often added to frozen desserts, cheese, icing, baking mixes, canned vegetables, and more to extend shelf life and make foods smoother and less prone to melting. While emulsifiers can make these treats more appetizing, they can also lead to health issues as they may disrupt the gut microbiome, causing inflammation and potentially cancer.
6. Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT, is a common preservative used to keep food fresh, which means you'll often find it in desserts, beverages, sauces, dressings, spreads, and various potato products, such as dehydrated potato shreds and potato flakes. While consuming small amounts of BHT is considered safe, it has still been linked to kidney and liver problems and may promote tumor growth.
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7. Propylene Glycol
A viscous, colorless, and odorless liquid, propylene glycol is a key ingredient used to absorb water in deicing solutions, antifreeze, deodorants, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. It's often added in spices, colorings, and flavorings, meaning you can most likely find it on a fast food menu. Though the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) deems it safe, it can still cause irritation to the skin and eyes. In large doses, it can cause cardiac arrhythmia, seizures, and central nervous system toxicity.
8. Sodium Nitrite
If you've ever wondered how cured deli meat stays fresh and vibrant, it's likely due to the addition of sodium nitrite. An odorless yellow-white powder, it may not seem harmless—though you'll definitely want to be cautious about how much you consume. In excess amounts, it can cause breathing issues, heart disease, diabetes, colorectal cancer, and even death.
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9. Carminic Acid
If you're squeamish with bugs, you probably won't want to hear about how carminic acid is made. Extracted from cochineal (beetles) shells, bodies, and eggs, this bright red food dye is used in a variety of products, such as chicken nuggets. Though it can flare up allergic reactions and cause irritation, it's generally considered safe to consume—that is, if you can eat it now without wanting to hurl.
10. Palm Oil
Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil derived from the fruit of oil palm trees. While it's technically healthier than butter, it's still fairly high in saturated fats—the kind that can hike up your LDL, or bad cholesterol. Consuming too many goods with palm oil as an ingredient can lead to heart disease, high cholesterol, stroke, and other health issues.
11. Silicon Dioxide
An anti-caking agent used to prevent powdered ingredients from sticking together, silicon dioxide can be found in many fast food items. Interestingly enough, silica can also be found naturally in water, animals, plants, and earth. In fact, if you head to the beach you'll find an abundance of it under your feet—sand. Be careful, though: inhaling or consuming too much of this additive can lead to adverse health effects, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and even lung cancer.
12. Tertiary Butylhydroquinone
Tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, is a common additive used to preserve food. The highest amount of it can be found in frozen fish products, and it's also used in varnishes, butane lighters, pesticides, and skin care products. Though the FDA approves of its use in food items, it's better to limit your consumption; TBHQ has been linked to causing a range of health problems, such as liver enlargement, convulsions, paralysis, and delirium.
13. Monosodium Glutamate
You'll probably know monosodium glutamate better by its abbreviation—MSG. Used to enhance flavor, MSG is commonly added to fast food items to make them, well, taste better. Yet, it's best to not get addicted to this ingredient; while it's generally considered safe to consume, MSG can cause headaches, nausea, chest pain, and heart palpitations.
14. Dimethylpolysiloxane
Dimethylpolysiloxane, also known as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), is a silicone polymer that's used in deep fryers in fast food chains as an anti-foaming agent, preventing oil splatters. But that's not the only place this compound is used in—it's also the main component of silly putty and breast implants. Sounds appetizing, right? Though dimethylpolysiloxane is technically considered safe to consume, you might want to think twice about putting those McDonald's French fries in your mouth.
15. L-Cysteine
An amino acid found in various types of commercial bread, l-cysteine is used to make the dough more soft and pliable. But the nausea-inducing secret is that this protein is also sourced from duck feathers, hog hair, and—are you ready?—human hair. In fact, it was even reported that women sold their luscious locks to processing plants!
16. Azodicarbonamide
A yellowish powder, azodicarbonamide (known also as ADA) is a food additive found in many baked goods and snacks—a whopping 500 items that you can probably find at your nearest grocery store. It's often used as a "dough conditioner" in bread or as a bleaching agent, but you don't need to look to your bagel to find it there; this chemical is also used to make yoga mats. Consume enough of this rubber and it could increase your risk of respiratory issues and cancer.
17. Titanium Dioxide
Another whitening agent you might find on the ingredient list at the back of many food products is titanium dioxide. This chemical is often used on coffee creamers, candies, sauces, and even lipstick and toothpaste. The FDA has deemed it generally safe to consume, but there are concerns over it being a carcinogen and that it could cause DNA damage.
18. Brominated Vegetable Oil
Brominated vegetable oil, or BVO, is an emulsifier used in sports drinks, sodas, and other beverages to help liquids mix together more easily. But it has a dangerous side effect: it can build up in the body and cause neurological problems, and can be harmful to the thyroid, liver, and heart. It was finally banned by the FDA in 2024 after decades of it being approved for use.
19. Potassium Bromate
Sometimes known as bromate, this additive has been banned in many countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Peru, South Korea, and more—though it's still present in fast food chains and products in the US as a flour enhancer to make the dough rise quicker. Be extremely wary of this ingredient if you see it; it's been linked to various cancers, kidney damage, thyroid disease, behavioral changes, and reproductive abnormalities.
20. Propyl Gallate
Used as a preservative to extend shelf life and prevent mold, propyl gallate can be found in meat products, vegetable oils, mayo, soup mixes, and chewing gum. Though it isn't banned by the FDA, consuming too much of this additive can cause respiratory issues, gut irritation, and cancer.
