Ammonia caramelCaramel colour class III; may contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), an animal carcinogen.
Potassium phosphatesInorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.
CarrageenanDegraded carrageenan, and in some animal/in-vitro studies food-grade carrageenan, are linked to intestinal inflammation; human evidence is limited and contested.
DiphosphatesInorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.
PolyphosphatesInorganic 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.
Why this band?
How the nutrition, processing, and additive signals combine into the overall food-health band.
OpenClose
Overall food-health bandFood healthCritical
NutritionCritical
nutri-score e
Processing
nova 4
AdditivesModerate
6 flagged additive(s), worst MODERATE
1nutrition base band "critical" from nutri-score
2ultra-processed (NOVA 4) worsens band by one
3final band "critical" (health-blend-v1)
Flagged additives
Ammonia caramel — Caramel colour class III; may contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), an animal carcinogen.
Potassium phosphates — Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.
Carrageenan — Degraded carrageenan, and in some animal/in-vitro studies food-grade carrageenan, are linked to intestinal inflammation; human evidence is limited and contested.
Diphosphates — Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.
Polyphosphates — 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.
blend health-blend-v1
Per-ingredient concern · chemical identity, not food safety
