U.S. Manufactured Food Additive Consumption

1. Harmful effects of food additives (Trasande et. al, 2018)

1.1. Bisphenols

1.1.1. Endocrine disruption

1.1.2. Neurodevelopmental disruption

1.1.3. Obesogenic activity

1.2. Phthalates

1.2.1. Endocrine disruption

1.2.2. Obesogenic activity

1.2.3. Cardiotoxicity

1.3. Perfluoroalkyl chemicals

1.3.1. Immunosupression

1.3.2. Endocrine disruption

1.3.3. Obesogenic activity

1.4. Perchlorate

1.4.1. Thyroid hormone disruption

1.5. Nitrates and Nitrites

1.5.1. Carcinogenicity

1.5.2. Thyroid hormone disruption

2. Children are more vulnerable to harmful effects of food additives

2.1. Children are exposed at a higher relative rate due to their dietary intake difference compared to adults (Trasande et al., 2018).

2.2. Children's metabolism/detoxification systems are still developing (Landrigan and Goldman, 2011).

2.3. Other key organ systems are still developing, making them vulnerable to changes (Landrigan and Goldman, 2011).

3. Why are these chemicals added to food or food packaging in the US?

3.1. Bisphenols

3.1.1. Used in lining of metal cans to prevent corrosion (Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives, and Colors, 2019)

3.2. Phthalates

3.2.1. Used as adhesives, lubricants, and plasticizers during the manufacturing process (Trasande et al., 2018)

3.3. PFCs

3.3.1. Used in grease-proof paper and packaging (Trasande et al., 2018)

3.4. Perchlorate

3.4.1. Used for plastic packaging of dry foods, and is also present as a degradation product of bleach used to clean manufacturing equipment (Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives, and Colors, 2019)

3.5. Nitrates and nitrites

3.5.1. Added as a preservative and color enhancer (Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives, and Colors, 2019).

4. US FDA laws surrounding chemical additives (Determining the Regulatory Status of a Food Ingredient, 2018)

4.1. GRAS process allows a lot of food additives to enter the market (Determining the Regulatory Status of a Food Ingredients, 2018).

4.1.1. Conflicts of interest (Trasande et al., 2018)

4.2. FDA does not have the authority to reassess products currently on the market, even after research has proven that those products may have harmful effects (Trasande et al., 2018)