Allowed Substances Linked to Cancer

The 1958 amendment to the original 1938 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FD&C) Act prohibits use of any substances that are linked to cancer in lab animals or humans (the Delaney clause). Many substances linked to cancer are not approved, however there are some that are still allowed as a food additives or preservatives by the FDA.

Questions remain for certain additives, such as these three examples:

1. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is added to numerous foods as a stabilizer, antioxidant and for other properties. It has been found to cause cancer in rats. BHA is thought to be "reasonably anticipated" to cause cancer in humans yet it is still allowed by the FDA.

2. Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, approved by the FDA in 1981, have been linked to various cancers and non-cancerous tumors in rats or mice. One human study reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2012, though not conclusive, implicated artificial sweeteners in multiple myeloma and lymphoma in men, though not in women. Other studies also report inconsistent results. Despite the uncertainty of study results the FDA and other U. S. health agencies conclude that artificial sweetener are safein humans.

3. Eugenol, which is extracted from cloves, basil and other plants, is used in chewing gum, soda and other processed foods was found to cause liver cancer in rats in high doses. Despite this the food industry decided that the relatively smaller doses added to foods was safe and the FDA allows its continued use.

Approved Color Additives and Children

Several synthetic food colors such as blue and red dyes continue to have FDA approval in the U.S. These synthetic colors have been of concern for a possible link to attention deficit disorder in children.

A recent paper published in the British medical journal Lancet in 2007 showed stronger evidence of a link between synthetic food color and hyperactivity in children. These color additives are still added to processed foods in the U. S. Natural color additives, such as caramel, are also of concern for other health risks.

Mislabeling and Secret Ingredients

 

The FDA requires certain substances, such as sulfites and MSG to be specifically listed on a food label because of their known risks or side effects. However, some manufacturers often list other additives generically, for example, as "flavorings" or "spices" instead of by the specific name. Some of these are secret ingredients they prefer not to reveal to their competitors.

For example, MSG, which can cause headaches and nausea in some people, may be included in a product but disguised on the label as "natural flavor" or "hydrolyzed yeast". There are many other ways in which the origin of food additives get disguised under other names unknown to consumers.

Danger of Long-term Exposure

The FDA allows substances that have known risks in animals or humans to be added to to foods as long as they are in small amounts. They conclude that most substances added to the food supply are too small in quantity to cause harm. The problem is that no studies have looked at dose-related effects of of these additives.

It is possible that, though in low quantities in foods, with prolonged use over years some additives could accumulate in your body and increase your risks. These substances may not be completely excreted and instead stored in small amounts, which over time may be toxic within your organs.

Risk of Additive Effects

A single additive or preservative may be low risk but no one is exposed to just a single or a few chemicals. Together, substances can potentially be additive or interact with each other and produce side chemicals which may be more hazardous to your health.

There may be multiple substances in just one product, not to mention the many processed foods that you may consume. Given this, it is may not be possible to tell in the long which specific food substance caused your health problem. The lower the grade of a food, the more likely that there are multiple additives to try to enhance it and make it more appealing.