 due to concerns it could accumulate in the body and cause genotoxicity – DNA damage – which can lead to cancer. A spokesperson for the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which regulates food in the UK, said titanium dioxide was currently under review by the Scientific Advisory Committee, which would report back early next year. A spokesperson for Mars said Skittles sold in the UK and EU do not contain titanium dioxide. Top culprits: Chewing gum, white chocolate, sauces eaten by toddlers and infants, baked goods and confectionery. Artificial Sweeteners Artificial sweeteners, including acesulfame K, aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, are among the most common food additives in the world. Calorie free, they're used in thousands of UPFs as well as table-top sweeteners. But concerns about their safety are growing. Dr Touvier co-authored two recent reports linking artificial sweeteners to increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Other studies suggest sweeteners may also be detrimental for our gut microbiome, disrupt blood sugar regulation, triggering inflammation and weight gain. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is preparing to issue the first ever guidelines on artificial sweeteners. In a report earlier this year, it found that while sweeteners might help with short-term weight loss, they possibly also cause 'long-term harm in the form of increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mortality.' Top culprits: Diet soft drinks, baker){kind=link}
Highly processed foods can be cheap, convenient and tasty but they come with a large serving of hidden extras that can have a harmful effect
Partial to bacon butties, diet soft drinks, ready meals or sweets? We all know these foods aren’t exactly healthy, but mounting evidence suggests they could be a lot more harmful than you think.
Take Skittles. US fans of Skittles, the multi-coloured sweets, were likely chewing over this possibility after a lawsuit was filed in Northern California this summer against confectionary giant Mars Inc. The suit claimed the sweets were “unfit for human consumption” because they contain titanium dioxide, an artificial colouring (commonly known as E171) banned in the EU but allowed in the UK and US. The case was dismissed last week, but it brought ultra-processed foods (UPFs) into sharp focus.
UPFs are foods that are industrially altered to a high degree using techniques and ingredients not available in the home; think ready meals, sweet and savoury packaged snacks, soft drinks, confectionery, breakfast cereals and packaged bread.
UPFs now account for almost 60 per cent of all the calories eaten in the UK. And they all come with a hefty dose of additives; artificial colours and sweeteners, emulsifiers and other chemicals designed to enhance the appearance, taste, texture and shelf life of manufactured food. But are all these additives safe?