Hostess, cupcakes

Flagged additives

• Tartrazine — Southampton study link to hyperactivity/attention effects in children; can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.
• Sunset yellow FCF — Southampton Six colour; hyperactivity/attention concern in children.
• 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.
• Ammonia caramel — Caramel colour class III; may contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), an animal carcinogen.
• Sodium phosphates — Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.
• Calcium phosphates — Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.
• Diphosphates — Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.
• Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) — Synthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.