Food Additives

Vegan and Non-Vegan Food Additives

Substance	Description	Sources
Bisphenol A or BPA (Commonly replaced with Bisphenol S or BPS which is also harmful)	Chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics. BPA can contaminate food, beverage, air, and soil. It accumulates in several human tissues and organs and is potentially harmful to human health through different molecular mechanisms. Glass and Stainless Steel are safer than plastics.	Shatterproof windows, eyewear, water bottles, and epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.

ⓥ = Vegan

Substance	Effect on the body	Sources
ⓥ Agar agar Healthy	Gelling agent used to thicken	Red seaweed
ⓥ Autolyzed yeast Healthy	Flavoring agent used to make yeast extracts like Vegemite and Marmite.	Yeast cells that are broken down to release amino acids, salts, and carbohydrates.
Beeswax Not Vegan, Healthy	Used in candles, chewing gum, and cosmetic products.	Purified from honeycomb from honeybees
ⓥ Calcium sulfate Unhealthy	Dairy-free additive, deemed ‘relatively’ non-hazardous, due to ‘hardness of molecules’. Used in plaster of paris and as a food binder (such as with Publix tofu and breads). Better to soak and eat beans!	Limestone or gypsum
Calcium carbonate Sometimes ⓥ, Healthy	Can be from animal shells, a natural mineral source of calcium that is dairy-free.	Limestone, marble, or crushed animal shells (oysters, clams, mussels, and coral)
ⓥ Calcium chloride Unhealthy	Dairy-free combination of calcium and chlorine, used to lighten food products such as bread. (Pool chloride is a powerful chemical used to sanitize pool water and kill bacteria, by the way. Go organic, avoid the cheap breads!)	Byproduct of making sodium carbonate and by reacting calcium carbonate with hydrochloric acid.
ⓥ Cellulose, some hemicellulose Insoluble fiber, Healthy	Reduces constipation, lowers diverticulitis risk, and may reduce weight.	Nuts, whole wheat, whole grains, bran, seeds, edible brown rice, and produce skins.
Cochineal or Carmine Not Vegan	Red dye foods, fruit juices, candies, cosmetics, and hygiene products.	Crushed female cochineal insects
Gelatin Not Vegan	Not Vegan. A protein used as a thickening agent or to make capsules for vitamins and supplements.	Boiling animal skin, tendons, bones, and ligaments with water
Honey Not Vegan, Healthy	Not Vegan. Made by the bees	Bees (Thank you)
ⓥ Inulin, Healthy	Prebiotic fiber	Plants
Lanolin, cholecalciferol Not Vegan	An oil produced in sheep wool that is used in foods as a coating, like cereal, to add shine and water-resistance. Also used to soften oral products such as bubblegum.	Sheep wool
Lecithin Not Vegan (See Sunflower Lecithin or Soy Lecithin for ⓥ), Healthy	Not vegan safe. An emulsifier used as a sticking agent to keep all the ingredients together and balance the chewy, crunchy texture. A vegan-friendly alternative is soy lecithin or sunflower lecithin.	Egg yolks, animal tissues and organs.
ⓥ Lignin Insoluble fiber, Healthy	*Not for this with celiac disease or gluten allergy. Good for heart health and stimulates immune function.	Flax, rye, and some vegetables.
ⓥ MSG or Monosodium Glutamate Unhealthy	Food additive that enhances flavor and reduces salt content. Known to be addictive. Related to obesity, liver damage, fluctuations in blood sugar, elevated risk of heart disease, behavioral problems, nerve damage, and increased inflammation, and toxic effects on the reproductive system.	Bacteria cultures from fermentation of plant-based ingredients such as sugar cane, sugar beets, cassava or corn.
ⓥ Pectin and gums Healthy	*Not for this with celiac disease or gluten allergy. Naturally found in fruits. Boosts fiber in processed foods.	Berries, seeds, and extracted from citrus peel and other plants.
ⓥ Polydextrose polyols	Soluble fiber added to processed foods as a bulking agent and sugar substitute. Prevents constipation, may cause bloating or gas.	Made from dextrose, sorbitol, and citric acid.
ⓥ Psyllium Healthy	🍼 Pregnant women should prioritize eating a nutritionally rich diet high in fiber to ease defecation and prevent hemorrhoids. Psyllium husk is a safe fiber to supplement with during pregnancy. Soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol (LDL and total cholesterol), may lower blood sugar, reduces the risk for heart disease.	*Not for this with celiac disease or are gluten allergy.
ⓥ Sugar *Sometimes not Vegan, Healthy in small amounts	Listed as “Sugar” in ingredients might include bone char. Bone char, or cow bone, is used to finely pulverize sugar granules to make baked goods softer and more decadent. Sugar, molasses, brown sugar, and confectioners sugar might not be vegan. Organic sugar and responsibly sourced sugar are vegan-friendly. I can literally taste the difference between Silk’s Unsweetened Almond Milk versus Almond Milk sweetened with regular sugar, it makes me nauceous.	Sugar beets and sugar canes
Sunflower Lecithin Healthy	Used as an emulsifier, or lubricant.	Sunflower seeds
Soy Lecithin Healthy	Used as an emulsifier, or lubricant.	Raw soybeans
Tocopherol Sometimes ⓥ	May not be vegan. Added for preservation to prevent color fading. Identical to Vitamin E.	Plant, animal, or petroleum
ⓥ Wheat dextrin Healthy	*Not for this with celiac disease or gluten allergy. Soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol (LDL and total cholesterol) and may lower blood sugar and reduce the risk for heart disease; more research is needed.	Extracted from wheat starch, and widely used to add fiber to processed foods.
Whey Not Vegan, Healthy	Derived from animal products	Milk