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.
AspartameSweetener; classified as possibly carcinogenic, though the evidence is contested and intake-dependent.
SucraloseSweetener; emerging genotoxicity concern around the impurity/metabolite sucralose-6-acetate.
Phosphoric acidAcidulant (colas); high total phosphate intake linked to bone-mineral and renal concerns in some studies.
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)Synthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.
Acesulfame KSweetener; broadly assessed safe but some consumer-avoidance and limited animal-study questions.
Why this band?
How the nutrition, processing, and additive signals combine into the overall food-health band.
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Overall food-health bandFood healthHigh
Processing
nova 4
AdditivesModerate
7 flagged additive(s), worst MODERATE
1no nutri-score — nutrition contributes the lowest band
2MODERATE-concern additive floors band at "moderate"
3ultra-processed (NOVA 4) worsens band by one
4final 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.
Aspartame — Sweetener; classified as possibly carcinogenic, though the evidence is contested and intake-dependent.
Sucralose — Sweetener; emerging genotoxicity concern around the impurity/metabolite sucralose-6-acetate.
Phosphoric acid — Acidulant (colas); high total phosphate intake linked to bone-mineral and renal concerns in some studies.
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) — Synthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.
Acesulfame K — Sweetener; broadly assessed safe but some consumer-avoidance and limited animal-study questions.
blend health-blend-v1
Per-ingredient concern · chemical identity, not food safety
