12 Food Additives to Avoid

Althought I try to cook from scratch as much as possible, it isn't always feasible.  I do take some shortcuts - by the time I leave work, do daycare pickup and brave the hour commute home, I just don't have time to make a whole meal from scratch.  I do however try to avoid preservative laden foods as much as possible.  A while ago I read an article on MSN Health that really stuck with me.  It was about 12 food additives to avoid.  I carry the list with me so that when I go food shopping, I always have it as a ready reference.  I always read the list of ingredients on any pre-packaged food item and if one of these items (other than sugar & salt) is on the list, I don't buy it.  I also found that different brands have different ingredients.  So while a box of quaker chocolate chip granola bars contains BHT (a preservative found in oil), the Target brand of the same granola bars does not.
Here is the link to the article/slideshow online: 12 Food Additives to Avoid

Here is the list of bad food additives:
1. Sodium nitrite - used to preserve color and to flavor meat products such as bacon, hot dogs, ham, lunch meats, smoked fish, etc.  Although it prevents growth of bacteria it has been shown to promote certain types of cancer - especially if the meat is grilled.
　
2. BHA and BHT - antioxidants used to preserve food by preventing them from oxidizing.  They are found in oils and fats and in cereal, chewing gum, potato chips.  There is some concern they may cause cancer.
　
3. Propyl gallate - used to prevent fats and  oils from spoiling and are often used together with BHA and BHT.  Sometimes found in meat products, chicken soup and chewing gum. Not proven to cause cancer but animal studies suggest it could be linked to cancer.
　
4. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) - used as flavor enhancer in soupds, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees and restaurant food (especially Asian).  It can cause headaches and nausea in some people.
　
5. Trans fats - eating too much of it leads to heart disease.
　
6. Aspartame - nutrasweet and equal; found in diet foods, low calorie foods and "sugar free" foods.  There are conflicting studies - some say its safe, some link it to cancer.

7. Acesulfame-K - artificial sweetener used in soft drinks, baked goods, chewing gum and gelatin deserts.  200 times sweeter than sugar.  There is general concern that there wasn't enough testing of this product.
　
8. Food colorings: Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; and Yellow 6 - linked to cancer in animal tests.  Some food coloring is naturally derived and probably safe.  Just read the labels.
　
9. Olestra - synthetic fat known commercially as Olean - found in potato chips and prevents fat from getting absorbed in your digesting system.  Can lead to diarrhea, abdominal cramps and gas.  It not only blocks fat absorbtion but vitamin absorbtion as well.
　
10. Potassium bromate - rare but still legal in the US and is used to increase volume in white flour, bread and rolls.  California requires a cancer warning on the product label if potassium bromate is an ingredient.
　
11. White sugar - too much is unhealthy. Most americans are consuming 20-40% of their calories from simple sugars (guidelines are 10%). 
　
12. Sodium chloride - "Excessive amounts of salt can become dangerous for your health, affecting cardiovascular function, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure."