Mermaid donuts with marshmallow flavored cream filling

Flagged additives

• Tartrazine — Southampton study link to hyperactivity/attention effects in children; can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.
• Allura red AC — Southampton Six colour; hyperactivity/attention concern in children.
• Titanium dioxide — Possible genotoxicity (DNA/chromosomal damage) could not be ruled out; no longer considered safe as a food additive.
• Erythrosine — Iodine-based red dye; thyroid effects in animal studies; restricted uses.
• Brilliant blue FCF — Synthetic dye; allergic-type reactions reported in sensitive individuals.
• 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.
• Calcium propionate — Propionate preservatives have been associated in limited studies with behavioural/irritability effects in children and with migraine in sensitive individuals; evidence is weak.
• Diphosphates — Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.