Cake

Why it's rated this way

10 additives on this label are on our additives-of-concern list.

1. Allura red ACHigh concernSouthampton Six colour; hyperactivity/attention concern in children.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Southampton Six colour; hyperactivity/attention concern in children.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

2. Titanium dioxideHigh concernPossible genotoxicity (DNA/chromosomal damage) could not be ruled out; no longer considered safe as a food additive.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Possible genotoxicity (DNA/chromosomal damage) could not be ruled out; no longer considered safe as a food additive.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

3. Sodium benzoateModerate concernPreservative; can form trace benzene (a carcinogen) when combined with ascorbic acid; implicated in child hyperactivity studies.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Preservative; can form trace benzene (a carcinogen) when combined with ascorbic acid; implicated in child hyperactivity studies.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

4. Sodium metabisulphiteModerate concernSulphite; asthma/allergic-type reactions.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Sulphite; asthma/allergic-type reactions.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

5. Sodium propionateMinor concernPropionate preservatives have been associated in limited studies with behavioural/irritability effects in children and with migraine in sensitive individuals; evidence is weak.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Propionate preservatives have been associated in limited studies with behavioural/irritability effects in children and with migraine in sensitive individuals; evidence is weak.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

6. Phosphoric acidMinor concernAcidulant (colas); high total phosphate intake linked to bone-mineral and renal concerns in some studies.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Acidulant (colas); high total phosphate intake linked to bone-mineral and renal concerns in some studies.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

7. Calcium phosphatesMinor concernInorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

8. Polysorbate 80Minor concernSynthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Synthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

9. DiphosphatesMinor concernInorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Inorganic phosphate additives are highly bioavailable; high additive-phosphate intake is associated with increased cardiovascular and kidney burden, particularly in chronic kidney disease.

   Regulatory basis

   Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

   How sure we are

   High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

10. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)Minor concernSynthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.

    What it is

    Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

    Why it's flagged

    Synthetic emulsifier linked in animal and in-vitro studies to gut-microbiome disruption and intestinal inflammation; human evidence is emerging.

    Regulatory basis

    Greenveil's curated additives-of-concern list, which cites the authority behind each entry.

    How sure we are

    High confidence. Matched by the additive code declared on the label.

A food's rating also reflects nutrition (Nutri-Score) and processing (NOVA); the additives above are the ingredient-level part of it.