Caramel apple cupcake, caramel apple

Why it's rated this way

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

1. Ammonia caramelModerate concernCaramel colour class III; may contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), an animal carcinogen.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Caramel colour class III; may contain 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), an animal carcinogen.

   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. 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.

3. 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.

4. CarrageenanMinor concernDegraded carrageenan, and in some animal/in-vitro studies food-grade carrageenan, are linked to intestinal inflammation; human evidence is limited and contested.

   What it is

   Its role isn't recorded in our data yet.

   Why it's flagged

   Degraded carrageenan, and in some animal/in-vitro studies food-grade carrageenan, are linked to intestinal inflammation; human evidence is limited and contested.

   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. 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.

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