Part Two · Food Additives
The label, decoded.
Industrial food relies on dozens of additives that rarely appear under a single name. Carrageenan, aspartame, sodium nitrites, BHA/BHT, titanium dioxide, synthetic dyes, MSG, emulsifiers and potassium bromate are mapped here — what they are, every alias they hide behind, where they appear, and what the evidence shows.
Decoding strategies for the conscientious shopper
Read in this order
- If the ingredient list is longer than your hand, put it back.
- Anything starting with E1__ to E4__ is usually a permitted additive — look it up rather than assume the worst, but treat as a signal of processing.
- "Natural flavour" can legally hide dozens of components; in highly processed foods, assume the flavour profile is engineered.
- "Uncured" and "no nitrites added" with celery powder/juice deliver the same nitrite exposure as cured meats.
Common hidden synonyms
- Sugar: HFCS, glucose-fructose syrup, isoglucose, maltose, dextrose, agave, fruit juice concentrate, evaporated cane juice.
- MSG: hydrolysed vegetable protein, yeast extract, autolysed yeast, sodium caseinate, soy protein isolate.
- Carrageenan: E407, Irish moss extract, PNG carrageenan, "vegetable gum."
- Nitrites: celery powder, celery juice concentrate, "natural curing agents."
- Synthetic dyes: E102 (Yellow 5), E110 (Yellow 6), E129 (Red 40), E133 (Blue 1), E143 (Green 3).