Flavor Additive Fact Sheet

ADDITIVE	EXAMPLES	WHAT IS IT?	WHERE IS IT FOUND?	WHY IS IT (UN)HEALTHY?
Artificial Sweeteners	Aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia (xylitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols, see that section)	Artificial sweeteners are also known as non-nutritive sweeteners, meaning they replace calorie-dense sugar with a calorie-free substitute.	Artificial sweeteners come in almost all low-sugar foods, especially in diet versions of sodas and other snacks.	Artificial sweeteners can help certain people cut calorie and lose weight. Some studies suggest that they may be linked to increased heart disease, but generally these sweeteners are okay to consume in moderation.¹
Artificial Flavors	llyl caproate and ethyl butyrate taste like pineapple, benzaldehyde like almond, benzyl butyrate like raspberry, and citral like lemon	Artificial flavors are chemical compounds which are made in a lab to mimic a certain real world flavor or synthesize a new, artificial one.	Artificial flavors are found in many processed foods, especially candies and snacks.	Artificial flavors are approved by the FDA as safe in relatively small quantities, but can become toxic at higher concentrations.² Again, consume these with moderation.
Flavor Enhancers	Monosodium glutamate (MSG), disodium 5′-ribonucleotides, hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP)	Flavor enhancers are chemicals which are formulated to imbue a certain taste into food (i.e. one of salty, sweet, sour, bitter, or umami)	Flavor enhancers like MSG can be found in processed meats, snacks, and restaurant foods (especially fast food). They may also appear in store bought spices, especially low-sodium products.	Flavor enhancers are approved by the FDA, but some have hypothesized negative side effects, like MSG symptom complex, which is said to cause headaches and nausea.³ These side effects are widely argued, but the safer side of the argument would mean moderating or avoiding these chemicals.
pH Agents	Citric acid, acetic acid, sodium citrate, lactic acid, adipic acid	pH agents, also known as food acids, are Ingredients that either maintain or control the acidity or alkalinity of foods.	pH agents are found in all sorts of foods, from gelatins, jams, ice cream, and candies, to cheese and fruit-flavored drinks.	pH agents are used to simply alter the pH of a food and are generally consider safe and accepted by the FDA.
Mineral Salts	Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, bicarbonate.	Mineral salts, also referred to as electrolytes, are chemical combinations of metal and non-metal elements.	Salts are found in electrolytes drinks, snack foods, restaurant/prepared foods, and table salt.	Salts and electrolytes are a necessary part of the diet, especially for those who engage in intense exercise.⁴