Ammonia caramelCaramel colour class III; may contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), an animal carcinogen.
Sodium benzoatePreservative; can form trace benzene (a carcinogen) when combined with ascorbic acid; implicated in child hyperactivity studies.
SucraloseSweetener; emerging genotoxicity concern around the impurity/metabolite sucralose-6-acetate.
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)Synthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.
Why this band?
How the nutrition, processing, and additive signals combine into the overall food-health band.
Open
Close
Overall food-health bandFood healthHigh
NutritionModerate
nutri-score c
Processing
nova 4
AdditivesModerate
4 flagged additive(s), worst MODERATE
1nutrition base band "moderate" from nutri-score
2ultra-processed (NOVA 4) worsens band by one
3final band "high" (health-blend-v1)
Flagged additives
Ammonia caramel — Caramel colour class III; may contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), an animal carcinogen.
Sodium benzoate — Preservative; can form trace benzene (a carcinogen) when combined with ascorbic acid; implicated in child hyperactivity studies.
Sucralose — Sweetener; emerging genotoxicity concern around the impurity/metabolite sucralose-6-acetate.
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) — Synthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.
blend health-blend-v1
Per-ingredient concern · chemical identity, not food safety
