Do you really know? Are additives bad for your health?
Dec 23, 2025
The average UK resident consumes over eight kilograms of food additives annually, often due to ultra-processed diets. E numbers categorize these additives, including colors, preservatives, and antioxidants. While many additives are legally permitted if deemed safe, their common use raises questions about health impacts. Some additives, like nitrates in cured meats and MSG, have been linked to potential health risks. It's important to understand both the roles of these substances in food and the moderation needed to enjoy them safely.
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Limit Ultra-Processed Foods
- Reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods to lower additive intake since averages mask higher individual exposure.
- Prefer minimally processed or unprocessed foods which typically lack added additives.
Additives Are Ubiquitous In Processed Food
- Food additives are widely used in processed foods to improve safety, shelf life, flavour, colour and texture.
- Most minimally processed and unprocessed foods typically do not contain additives.
E Numbers Categorize Additives
- Additives are identified by E numbers grouped by function, e.g., colours in the 100s and preservatives in the 200s.
- The UK lists about 330 approved additives on the Food Standards Agency website.