Which food additives and ingredients are safe?
Evidence-backed safety profiles for food additives, preservatives, colorants, and common food ingredients. Understand regulatory status across FDA, EU, and other jurisdictions.
Common questions
- Is titanium dioxide safe in food?
- The EU banned titanium dioxide (E171) as a food additive in 2022, citing genotoxicity concerns. The FDA still permits it in the US at specified concentrations. Evidence on safety at food doses remains debated.
- What are common food additives to be aware of?
- Commonly scrutinized additives include artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5), nitrates/nitrites in processed meats, BHT/BHA preservatives, carrageenan, and high-fructose corn syrup.
- What does GRAS mean for food ingredients?
- GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) is an FDA designation indicating that an ingredient is generally recognized as safe for its intended use. GRAS status does not require pre-market review by the FDA.
Ingredients in this guide
Bisphenol a
Critical concernCritical concern driven by cmr.
Titanium dioxide
High concernHigh concern based on regulatory listings.
Butylated hydroxytoluene
High concernHigh concern informed by published safety evidence.
Sodium nitrite
High concernHigh concern based on regulatory listings.
FD&C red no. 40
High concernHigh concern based on regulatory listings.
Carbonated water
Low concernLow concern — well-established and permitted without restriction (EU CosIng).
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Low concernLow concern — well-established and permitted without restriction (FDA GRAS).
Caffeine
Not assessedIn the catalog, but no published hazard evidence yet.
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