How2Day: Additives & Preservatives List

Additives and preservatives are commonly added to canned foods. Shana Novak/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Preservatives have been used to prevent food from spoiling for centuries. Before modern-day techniques, food was often preserved with salt or vinegar. Today, many products found in grocery stores have additives and preservatives, with some being more harmful than others. Additives are commonly used to improve taste, texture or color. Preservatives are typically used to prevent spoilage or to keep oils from turning rancid.

Benzoates are often found in cereals, drinks and meat products. Benzoates are antimicrobial agents, used to prevent harmful microbes from spoiling foods. Benzoates may temporarily inhibit the function of digestive enzymes.

Nitrites are most often found in meat products, such as bacon and deli meat. Nitrites are used to delay the development of botulism, retard rancidity and preserve the flavor of spices and smoke. Additionally, nitrites preserve the smell of meat and meat products. Nitrites are suspected of causing a number of ailments and can easily be avoided by buying non-processed, refrigerated meats.

Sulphites are chemicals that are used to keep fruits and vegetables looking fresh. They're often found in packaged apricots, prunes and raisins. Some people are highly allergic to sulphites and need to avoid foods with sulphites added.

Artificial colors are man-made dyes used to preserve or enhance the color of foods. These dyes are commonly found in breakfast cereals and juice drinks. Artificial colors, like Yellow # 5 and Red # 3, have been known to cause allergic reactions in some people.

Gums, such are guar gum and arabic gum, are used as stabilizers and thickening agents. They are often found in low-fat foods to modify texture. These gums are actually derived from natural sources and are processed by the body as digestible sugars.

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is commonly found in Chinese food, potato chips and a host of other food products. MSG is a flavor enhancer, which functions to intensify the flavor of certain foods. Some people are very sensitive to MSG, and complain of headaches and nausea after consuming it.

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