List of GMO foods; It's amazing that in almost everything you buy has some sort of GMO ingredients in it....this list is crazy.
Chemical Maze; A handy supermarket guide Photocopy and keep with you when shopping
Food Additive Prescribed Name---------------------------------------------------Code No
|
Curcumin or Turmeric (colour)
|
100
|
|
Riboflavin or Riboflavin 5’-phosphate sodium(colour)
|
101
|
|
Tartrazine (colour)
|
102
|
|
Alkanet or Alkannin (colour)
|
103
|
|
Quinoline yellow (colour)
|
104
|
|
Sunset yellow FCF (colour)
|
110
|
|
Carmines or Carminic acid or Cochineal (colour)
|
120
|
|
Azorubine or Carmoisine (colour)
|
122
|
|
Amaranth (colour)
|
123
|
|
Ponceau 4R (colour)
|
124
|
|
Erythrosine (colour)
|
127
|
|
Allura red AC (colour)
|
129
|
|
Indigotine (colour)
|
132
|
|
Brilliant blue FCF (colour)
|
133
|
|
Chlorophyll (colour)
|
140
|
|
Chlorophyll-copper complex (colour)
|
141
|
|
Green S (colour)
|
142
|
|
Fast green FCF (colour)
|
143
|
|
Caramel I (colour)
|
150a
|
|
Caramel II (colour)
|
150b
|
|
Caramel III (colour)
|
150c
|
|
Caramel IV (colour)
|
150d
|
|
Brilliant black BN or Brilliant black PN (colour)
|
151
|
|
Carbon black or vegetable carbon (colour)
|
153
|
|
Brown HT (colour)
|
155
|
|
Carotene (colour) )
|
160a
|
|
Annatto extracts (colour)
|
160b
|
|
Paprika oleoresins (colour)
|
160c
|
|
Lycopene (colour)
|
160d
|
|
-apo-8. Carotenal (colour)
|
160e
|
|
-apo-8. Carotenoic acid or methyl ethyl ester (colour)
|
160f
|
|
Flavoxanthin (colour)
|
161a
|
|
Lutein (colour)
|
161b
|
|
Kryptoxanthin (colour)
|
161c
|
|
Rubixanthin (colour)
|
161d
|
|
Violoxanthin (colour)
|
161e
|
|
Rhodoxanthin (colour)
|
161f
|
|
Beet red (colour)
|
162
|
|
Anthocyanins or Grape skin extract or Blackcurrant extract (colour)
|
163
|
|
Saffron or Crocetin or Crocin (colour)
|
164
|
|
Calcium carbonate (colour, anti-caking agent)
|
170
|
|
Titanium dioxide (colour)
|
171
|
|
Iron oxide (colour)
|
172
|
|
Aluminium (colour)
|
173
|
|
Silver (colour)
|
174
|
|
Gold (colour)
|
175
|
|
Tannic acid or tannins (colour, emulsifier, stabiliser, thickener)
|
181
|
|
Sorbic acid (preservative)
|
200
|
|
Sodium sorbate (preservative)
|
201
|
|
Potassium sorbate (preservative)
|
202
|
|
Calcium sorbate (preservative)
|
203
|
|
Benzoic acid (preservative)
|
210
|
|
Sodium benzoate (preservative)
|
211
|
|
Potassium benzoate (preservative)
|
212
|
|
Calcium benzoate (preservative)
|
213
|
|
Propylparaben or Propyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate (preservative)
|
216
|
|
Methylparaben or Methyl-p-hydroxy-benzoate (preservative)
|
218
|
|
Sulphur dioxide (preservative)
|
220
|
|
Sodium sulphite (preservative)
|
221
|
|
Sodium bisulphite (preservative)
|
222
|
|
Sodium metabisulphite (preservative)
|
223
|
|
Potassium metabisulphite (preservative)
|
224
|
|
Potassium sulphite (preservative)
|
225
|
|
Potassium bisulphite (preservative)
|
228
|
|
Nisin (preservative)
|
234
|
|
Natamycin or Pimaricin (preservative)
|
235
|
|
Dimethyl dicarbonate (preservative)
|
242
|
|
Potassium nitrite (preservative, colour fixative)
|
249
|
|
Sodium nitrite (preservative, colour fixative)
|
250
|
|
Sodium nitrate (preservative, colour fixative)
|
251
|
|
Potassium nitrate (preservative, colour fixative)
|
252
|
|
Acetic acid, glacial (acidity regulator)
|
260
|
|
Potassium acetate or Potassium diacetate (acidity regulator)
|
261
|
|
Sodium acetates (acidity regulator)
|
262
|
|
Calcium acetate (acidity regulator)
|
263
|
|
Ammonium acetate (acidity regulator)
|
264
|
|
Lactic acid (acidity regulator)
|
270
|
|
Propionic acid (preservative)
|
280
|
|
Sodium propionate (preservative)
|
281
|
|
Calcium propionate (preservative)
|
282
|
|
Potassium propionate (preservative)
|
283
|
|
Carbon dioxide (propellant)
|
290
|
|
Malic acid (acidity regulator)
|
296
|
|
Fumaric acid (acidity regulator)
|
297
|
|
Ascorbic acid (antioxidant)
|
300
|
|
Sodium ascorbate (antioxidant)
|
301
|
|
Calcium ascorbate (antioxidant)
|
302
|
|
Potassium ascorbate (antioxidant)
|
303
|
|
Ascorbyl palmitate (antioxidant)
|
304
|
|
Tocopherols concentrate, mixed (antioxidant)
|
306
|
|
a-Tocopherol (antioxidant)
|
307
|
|
-Tocopherol (antioxidant)
|
308
|
|
-Tocopherol (antioxidant)
|
309
|
|
Propyl gallate (antioxidant)
|
310
|
|
Octyl gallate (antioxidant)
|
311
|
|
Dodecyl gallate (antioxidant)
|
312
|
|
Erythorbic acid (antioxidant)
|
315
|
|
Sodium erythorbate (antioxidant)
|
316
|
|
tert-Butylhydroquinone (antioxidant)
|
319
|
|
Butylated hydroxyanisole (antioxidant)
|
320
|
|
Butylated hydroxytoluene (antioxidant)
|
321
|
|
Lecithin (antioxidant, emulsifier)
|
322
|
|
Sodium lactate (acidity regulator, humectant, bulking agent)
|
325
|
|
Potassium lactate (acidity regulator, humectant, bulking agent)
|
326
|
|
Calcium lactate (acidity regulator)
|
327
|
|
Ammonium lactate (acidity regulator)
|
328
|
|
Magnesium lactate (acidity regulator)
|
329
|
|
Citric acid (acidity regulator, antioxidant)
|
330
|
|
Sodium citrates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser)
|
331
|
|
Potassium citrates (acidity regulator, stabiliser)
|
332
|
|
Calcium citrates (acidity regulator, stabiliser)
|
333
|
|
Tartaric acid (acidity regulator, antioxidant)
|
334
|
|
Sodium tartrates (acidity regulator)
|
335
|
|
Potassium tartrate or Potassium acid tartrate (acidity regulator, stabiliser)
|
336
|
|
Potassium sodium tartrate (acidity regulator, stabiliser)
|
337
|
|
Phosphoric acid (acidity regulator)
|
338
|
|
Sodium phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser)
|
339
|
|
Potassium phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser)
|
340
|
|
Calcium phosphates (acidity regulator, emulsifier, stabiliser, anti-caking agent)
|
341
|
|
Ammonium phosphates (acidity regulator)
|
342
|
|
Magnesium phosphates (acidity regulator, anticaking agent)
|
343
|
|
Ammonium malate (acidity regulator)
|
349
|
|
Sodium malates (acidity regulator, humectant)
|
350
|
|
Potassium malates (acidity regulator)
|
351
|
|
Calcium malates (acidity regulator)
|
352
|
|
Metatartaric acid (acidity regulator)
|
353
|
|
Calcium tartrate (acidity regulator)
|
354
|
|
Adipic acid (acidity regulator)
|
355
|
|
Potassium adipate (acidity regulator)
|
357
|
|
Ammonium adipates (acidity regulator)
|
359
|
|
Succinic acid (acidity regulator)
|
363
|
|
Sodium fumarate (acidity regulator)
|
365
|
|
Potassium fumarate (acidity regulator)
|
366
|
|
Calcium fumarate (acidity regulator)
|
367
|
|
Ammonium fumarate (acidity regulator)
|
368
|
|
Ammonium citrate or triammonium citrate (acidity regulator)
|
380
|
|
Ferric ammonium citrate (acidity regulator, anticaking agent)
|
381
|
|
Calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate or calcium disodium EDTA (preservative, antioxidant)
|
385
|
|
Alginic acid (thickener, stabiliser)
|
400
|
|
Sodium alginate (thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent)
|
401
|
|
Potassium alginate (thickener, stabiliser)
|
402
|
|
Ammonium alginate (thickener, stabiliser)
|
403
|
|
Calcium alginate (thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent)
|
404
|
|
Propylene glycol alginate (thickener, emulsifier)
|
405
|
|
Agar (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser)
|
406
|
|
Carrageenan (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser)
|
407
|
|
Processed eucheuma seaweed (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser)
|
407a
|
|
Arabinogalactan or Larch gum (thickener, gelling agent, stabiliser)
|
409
|
|
Locust bean gum or Carob bean gum (thickener, stabiliser)
|
410
|
|
Guar gum (thickener, stabiliser)
|
412
|
|
Tragacanth gum (thickener, stabiliser)
|
413
|
|
Acacia or gum Arabic (thickener, stabiliser)
|
414
|
|
Xanthan gum (thickener, stabiliser)
|
415
|
|
Karaya gum (thickener, stabiliser)
|
416
|
|
Gellan gum (thickener, stabiliser, gelling agent)
|
418
|
|
Sorbitol or sorbitol syrup (sweetener, humectant, emulsifier)
|
420
|
|
Sorbitan tristearate (emulsifier)
|
492
|
|
Sodium carbonate or Sodium bicarbonate (acidity regulator, raising agent, anti-caking agent)
|
500
|
|
Potassium carbonates (acidity regulator, stabiliser)
|
501
|
|
Ammonium bicarbonate or Ammonium hydrogen carbonate (acidity regulator, raising agent)
|
503
|
|
Magnesium carbonate (acidity regulator, anticaking agent)
|
504
|
|
Hydrochloric acid (acidity regulator)
|
507
|
|
Potassium chloride (gelling agent)
|
508
|
|
Calcium chloride (firming agent)
|
509
|
|
Ammonium chloride (bulking agent)
|
510
|
|
Magnesium chloride (firming agent)
|
511
|
|
Stannous chloride (antioxidant)
|
512
|
|
Sodium sulphate (acidity regulator)
|
514
|
|
Potassium sulphate (acidity regulator)
|
515
|
|
Calcium sulphate (firming agent)
|
516
|
|
Magnesium sulphate (firming agent)
|
518
|
|
Cupric sulphate (mineral salt)
|
519
|
|
Calcium hydroxide (acidity regulator, firming agent)
|
526
|
|
Calcium oxide (acidity regulator)
|
529
|
|
Magnesium oxide (anti-caking agent)
|
530
|
|
Sodium ferrocyanide (anti-caking agent)
|
535
|
|
Potassium ferrocyanide (anti-caking agent)
|
536
|
|
Sodium aluminium phosphate (acidity regulator, emulsifier)
|
541
|
|
Bone phosphate (anti-caking agent, emulsifier)
|
542
|
|
Silicon dioxide, amorphous (anti-caking agent)
|
551
|
|
Calcium silicate (anti-caking agent)
|
552
|
|
Magnesium silicate or Talc (anti-caking agent)
|
553
|
|
Sodium aluminosilicate (anti-caking agent)
|
554
|
|
Potassium aluminium silicate)
|
555
|
|
Calcium aluminium silicate (anti-caking agent)
|
556
|
|
Bentonite (anti-caking agent)
|
558
|
|
Aluminium silicate
|
559
|
|
Potassium silicate (anti-caking agent)
|
560
|
|
Stearic acid or fatty acid (glazing agent, foaming agent)
|
570
|
|
Glucono _-lactone or Glucono delta-lactone (acidity regulator, raising agent)
|
575
|
|
Potassium gluconate (sequestrant)
|
577
|
|
Calcium gluconate (acidity regulator, firming agent)
|
578
|
|
Ferrous gluconate (colour retention agent)
|
579
|
|
Magnesium gluconate (acidity regulatory, firming agent)
|
580
|
|
4-Hexylresorcinol (antioxidant)
|
586
|
|
L-Glutamic acid (flavour enhancer)
|
620
|
|
Monosodium L-glutamate or MSG (flavour enhancer)
|
621
|
|
Monopotassium L-glutamate (flavour enhancer)
|
622
|
|
Calcium glutamate (flavour enhancer)
|
623
|
|
Monoammonium L-glutamate (flavour enhancer)
|
624
|
|
Magnesium glutamate
|
625
|
|
Disodium 5‘-guanylate (flavour enhancer)
|
627
|
|
Disodium 5‘-inosinate (flavour enhancer)
|
631
|
|
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotides (flavour enhancer)
|
635
|
|
Maltol (flavour enhancer)
|
636
|
|
Ethyl maltol (flavour enhancer)
|
637
|
|
Glycine (flavour enhancer)
|
640
|
|
L-Leucine (flavour enhancer)
|
641
|
|
Polydimethylsiloxane or Dimethylpolysiloxane (anti caking agent, emulsifier)
|
900a
|
|
Beeswax, white and yellow (glazing agent)
|
901
|
|
Shellac (glazing agent)
|
904
|
|
Petrolatum or petroleum jelly (glazing agent)
|
905b
|
|
Oxidised polyethylene (humectant)
|
914
|
|
L-Cysteine monohydrochloride (raising agent)
|
920
|
|
Nitrogen (propellant)
|
941
|
|
Nitrous oxide (propellant)
|
942
|
|
Butane (propellant)
|
943a
|
|
Isobutane (propellant)
|
943b
|
|
Propane (propellant)
|
944
|
|
Octafluorocyclobutane (propellant)
|
946
|
|
Acesulphame potassium (sweetener)
|
950
|
|
Aspartame (sweetener)
|
951
|
|
Calcium cyclamate or sodium cyclamate or cyclamate (sweetener)
|
952
|
|
Isomalt (humectant, sweetener, bulking agent, anti caking agent)
|
953
|
|
Saccharin or calcium saccharin or sodium saccharine or potassium saccharine (sweetener)
|
954
|
|
Sucralose (sweetener)
|
955
|
|
Alitame (sweetener)
|
956
|
|
Thaumatin (flavour enhancer, sweetener)
|
957
|
|
Neotame (sweetener)
|
961
|
|
Propane (propellant)
|
944
|
|
|
|
|
Dangerous Food Additives table
|
|
Additive Number
|
Name of Food Additive
|
Hyper-
activity
|
Asthma
|
Cancer
|
|
|
102 & E102
|
Tartrazine (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
104 & E104
|
Quinoline Yellow (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
107 & E107
|
Yellow 2G (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
110 & E110
|
Sunset Yellow (Yellow food color #6)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
120 & E120
|
Carmines, Cochineal (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
122 & E122
|
Azorubine, Carmoisine (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
123 & E123
|
Amaranth (Red food color #2)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
124 & E124
|
Ponceau, Brilliant Scarlet (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
127 & E127
|
Erythrosine (Red food color #2)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
E128
|
Red 2G (Red food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
129 & E129
|
Allura Red AC (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
E131
|
Patent Blue (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
132 & E132
|
Indigotine, Indigo Carmine (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
133 & E133
|
Brilliant Blue (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
142 & E142
|
Acid Brilliant Green, Green S, Food Green (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
143
|
Fast Green (food color)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
150 & E150
|
Caramel (food color)
|
H
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
151 & E151
|
Activated Vegetable Carbons, Brilliant Black (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
154
|
Food Brown, Kipper Brown, Brown FK (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
155 & E155
|
Chocolate Brown HT, Brown HT (food color)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
160b & E160b
|
Bixin, Norbixin, Annatto Extracts (yellow, red to brown natural colors)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E173
|
Aluminium (preservatives)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
E180
|
Latol Rubine, Pigment Rubine (preservatives)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
200 &
E200-203
|
Potassium & Calcium Sorbates ,Sorbic Acid (preservatives)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
210 & E210
|
Benzoic Acid (preservatives)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
211 & E211
|
Sodium Benzoate (preservatives)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
212 & E212
|
Potassium Benzoate (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
213 & E213
|
Calcium Benzoate (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E214
|
Ethyl Para Hydroxybenzonate (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E215
|
Sodium Ethyl Para Hydroxybenzonate (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
216 & E216
|
Propyl P Hydroxybenzonate, Propylparaben (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E217
|
Sodium Propyl P Hydroxybenzonate (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
220 & E220
|
Sulphur Dioxide also Sulfur dioxide (preservatives)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
221 & E221
|
Sodium Sulfite or Sodium Sulphite (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
222
|
Sodium Bisulfite or Sodium Bisulphite (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
223 & E223
|
Sodium Metabisulfite or Sodium Metabisulphite (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
224 & E224
|
Potassium Metabisulphite or Potassium Metabisulfite (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
225 & E225
|
Potassium Sulfite or Potassium Sulphite (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E226
|
Calcium Sulfite or Calcium Sulphite (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E227
|
Calcium Hydrogen Sulphite or Calcium Hydrogen Sulfite (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E228
|
Potassium Bisulfite, Potassium Hydrogen Sulfite or Potassium Bisulphite, Potassium Hydrogen Sulphite (preservatives)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
E230
|
Diphenyl, Biphenyl (preservatives)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
E231
|
Orthophenyl Phenol (preservatives)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
E236
|
Formic Acid (preservative)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
E239
|
Hexamine, Hexamethylene Tetramine (preservatives)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
249 & E249
|
Potassium Nitrate (preservative)
|
-
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
250 & E250
|
Sodium Nitrite (preservative)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
251 & E251
|
Sodium Nitrate (preservative)
|
H
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
252 & E252
|
Potassium Nitrate (preservative)
|
H
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
260 & E260
|
Acetic Acid, Glacial (preservatives)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
280 to 283
|
Calcium or Potassium or Sodium Propionates, Propionic Acid (preservatives)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
310 & E310
|
Propyl Gallate (Synthetic Antioxidant)
|
-
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
311 & E311
|
Octyl Gallate (Synthetic Antioxidant)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
312 & E312
|
Dodecyl Gallate (Synthetic Antioxidant)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
319 & E319
|
TBHQ, Tert Butylhydroquinone (Synthetic Antioxidants)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
320 & E320
|
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) (Synthetic Antioxidants)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
321 & E321
|
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) or Butylhydroxytoluene (Synthetic Antioxidants)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
330 & E330
|
Citric Acid (NOT DANGEROUS naturally occurring e330 & 330 citric acid additive – can contain sulfites and mold, explained earlier in the article next to this table printable version link.)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
407 & E407
|
Carrageenan (Thickening & Stabilizing Agent)
|
-
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
413 & E413
|
Tragacanth (thickener & Emulsifier)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
414 & E414
|
Acacia Gum (Food Stabilizer)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
416
|
Karaya Gum (Laxative, Food Thickener & Emulsifier)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
421 & E421
|
Mannitol (Artificial Sweetener)
|
H
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
430
|
Polyxyethylene Stearate (Emulsifier)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
431
|
Polyxyl Stearate (Emulsifier)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
E432 – E435
|
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monostearate (Emulsifiers Gelling Stabilisers Thickeners Agents)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
433 – 436
|
Polysorbate (Emulsifiers)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
441 & E441
|
Gelatine (Food Gelling Agent)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
466
|
Sodium CarboxyMethyl Cellulose
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
507 & E507
|
Hydrochloric Acid (Hydrolyzing Enhancer & Gelatin Production)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
518 & E518
|
Magnesium Sulphate (Tofu Coagulant)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
536 & E536
|
Potassium Ferrocyanide (Anti Caking Agent)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
553 & E553 & E553b
|
Talc (Anti Caking, Filling, Softener, Agent)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
620 – 625
|
MSG Monosodium Glutamate, Glutamic Acid, all Glutamates (Flavour Enhancers)
|
H
|
A
|
C
|
|
|
627 & E627
|
Disodium Guanylate (Flavour Enhancers)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
631 & E631
|
Disodium Inosinate 5 (Flavour Enhancers)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
635 & E635
|
Disodium Ribonucleotides 5 (Flavour Enhancers)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
903 & E903
|
Camauba Wax (used in Chewing Gums, Coating and Glazing Agents)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
905 & 905 a,b,c
|
Paraffin and Vaseline, White Mineral Oil (Solvents, Coating and Glazing, Anti Foaming Agents, Lubricant in Chewing Gums)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
924 & E924
|
Potassium Bromate (Agent used in Bleaching Flour)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
925 & E925
|
Chlorine (Agent used in Bleaching Flour, Bread Enhancer and Stabiliser)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
926
|
Chlorine Dioxide (Bleaching Flour and Preservative Agent)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
928 & E928
|
Benzoyl Peroxide (Bleaching Flour and Bread enhancer Agent)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
950 & E950
|
Potassium Acesulphame (Sweetener)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
951
|
Aspartame (Sweetener)
|
H
|
A
|
-
|
|
|
952 & E952
|
Cyclamate and Cyclamic Acid (Sweeteners)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
954 & E954
|
Saccharine (Sweetener)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
1202 & E1202
|
Insoluble Polyvinylpyrrolidone Insoluble (Stabiliser and Clarifying Agent added to Wine, Beer, Pharmaceuticals)
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
|
|
1403
|
Bleached Starch (Thickenner and Stabiliser)
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
|
Food additives to avoid …
… linked to hyperactivity, asthma, cancer – avoid these in your every day diet!
Allergic and other reactions to food additives occur hours and even days later therefore many people cannot notice these connections.
Things to know about Cosmetic labeling
Most of us will find the ingredient list found on skin care products mind boggling.
1. Ingredient listed first has the highest concentration
Skin care manufacturers are required to list their ingredients in descending order or from the highest to the lowest concentration. Which means, the ingredient present in the largest concentration is always listed first followed by the second and so forth. So say if you bought a cleanser that claims to be natural or organic but Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is listed first on the list, then you should know that this is a pretty harsh cleanser. The exception is when the ingredients is classified as a drug such as Retin A, then it is listed prior to all other ingredients regardless of its concentration.
2. Some toxic ingredients within the product maybe insignificant
In the same vein, the ingredients listed last are normally referred to as “trace elements”. Having whipped up my own BB cream before, I know that this is a fact so Paula Begoun maybe right that certain chemical ingredients like parabens are so insignificant in products to cause much harm. This is true if the parabens which are usually listed as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben are last on the labels. However, I still think there could be some cumulative effect if you use many products containing such ingredients.
3. Only the top 33% of the ingredients matters
Something more specific about reading skin care labels is what I found the rule of thumb is that about 90% of the skin care product is made from the top 33% of the ingredients which means those listed after the 33% are probably trace elements. So in the example given, if a product label lists 25 ingredients, then the product is made up of the first eight ingredients. The remaining 17 ingredients probably have little impact on how the product works. Another way to read is to divide the ingredient list into thirds: the top third usually contains 90-95% of the product, the middle third usually contains 5-8% and the bottom third, 1-3%.
4. Active ingredients should have an effective concentration
One of the important aspects of reading skin care labels is understanding what sort of ingredients the product has and in what concentration if it is to do something for your skin.
For example if you’re buying a mineral sunscreen, then you should expect to see zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide listed separately as active ingredients or at least right on top of the list and they should have a concentration of at least 7% each.
If you’re using a product marketed as a vitamin C serum, then it should have a concentration of at least 10% of L-Ascorbic Acid to be effective. And if you’re paying top dollars for a product that promises skin regeneration with the ability to reverse your aging process, then it should jolly well contain active ingredients with antioxidant properties and that ingredient or ingredients should be listed separately or right in front.
The exception is patented or otherwise “secret” formulas do not need to disclose the combination of active ingredients but the company must submit an application to the FDA (if manufacturered in US) in order to list the alias instead of disclosing the ingredients on the label.
5. Some ingredients are spelled almost similarly but aren’t the same
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate also SLS for short, isn’t the same as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. The former is a plant derived cleansing agent and is much more skin friendly. And also some ingredients can have several related but distinct chemical forms for example silicones such as Cyclomethicone and Dimethicones used by many manufacturers of cosmetics and skincare products as an occulsive emollient.
It’s not an easy process but understanding skin care ingredients will definitely help you to make better choices when buying skin care products, not to mention save some money.
1. Silicone derived emollients
Silicone emollients are occlusive and are used to create a watertight film on top of the skin to lock in moisture. Listed under the names of Dimethicone, Dimethicone Copolyol or Cyclomethicone, these show up in over 80% of all skin-care and cosmetics such as foundation, primers, concealers and the popular BB creams. While they make application smoother, these compounds coat the skin, making it impossible for the skin to breathe. This is why they are often described to be like a plastic wrap suffocating the skin and trapping anything beneath it. Prolonged usage can cause skin irritations and breakouts for some people. In addition, it also means it would be difficult for any of your skin care goodies to penetrate into your dermis layer effectively, which I believe causes products to become ineffective after a period of time.
2. Petroleum-based ingredients
These are byproducts of petroleum and include ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin which also block your skin and coat it like plastic, thus clogging up the pores. When the skin cannot breathe properly, it builds up toxins and leads to all kinds of issues. So these are definitely no no for me when it comes to skin care products. While, I may not mind using a lip balm containing petrolatum but somehow they’ve never really worked very well for my lips.
3. Sulfates
I avoid facial cleansers containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). These are harsh detergents that are used in cleansers, soaps and shampoos and will strip our skin of its natural lipids.
4. Alcohol derivatives
As a whole, I avoid any products containing alcohol. Those like ethanol, ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and SD alcohol are solvents derived from petroleum and are extremely drying and irritating to the skin. With prolonged usage, these may strip the skin’s natural immune barrier, promote the formation of brown spots and cause premature aging of the skin. And even though cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol and lanolin alcohol are said to be beneficial in skin care, I tend to avoid them as far as possible too.
5. Fragrances
Some fragrances listed as musk or 6-methylcoumarin can cause photosensitivity too. Hence, I generally avoid facial products containing fragrance unless they are derived from essential oils.
6. Hydroquinone
This ingredient is not so common and only used in some skin whitening products. this ingredient is terribly damaging as it thins out the skin when used after a few weeks. When the skin becomes thinner, it also means that the skin becomes more proned to sensitivity and damage under the sun.
7. Alpha- and Beta-hydroxy acids (AHA/BHA)
I avoid creams and lotions containing AHA or BHA altogether as these ingredients also make our skin more sensitive to the sun.
8. Parabens
I don’t mind parabens that much unless if I see a whole bunch of them like Ethyl, Methyl, Propyl and Butyl Parabens in an ingredient list. If it’s just one or two of them and they’re listed right at the bottom, they don’t bother me that much. However, since I’m using more natural and organic products, they do not contain parabens anyway.
For beauty sake
I do not believe that effective products need to have a long list of ingredients.
Cosmetic regulation- what regulation?
There's NO requirement for cosmetics ingredients to be tested before products are put on the market
There's NO government-funded laboratory responsible for checking out that what we buy is safe.
It's entirely up to the manufacturers to decide what ingredients they put in the products they sell us. it is only after the product has been put on the market that any regulation kicks in.
Cosmetics are not subject to the same regulations as medicinal products such as drugs. Drugs are used to treat some medical ailment and they are intended to make changes to the body to treat the ailment. In the case of drugs, there are rigorous and lengthy trial and testing procedures which have to be completed before the regulatory bodies will approve the product for release on to the market.
A cosmetic is a substance that is meant to be applied to the skin, hair, nails, lips, external genitals, teeth or mouth and whose function is to clean, perfume. change appearance, protect, condition or deodorise. In the case of cosmetics, there are no government requirements for testing cosmetic products before they are put on the market . A cosmetic manufacturer can put almost anything into their products. provided that the ingredient is not actually banned.
What regulation there is, is provided almost exclusively by the industry itself.
In the USA (followed by Australia), there is a Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel which is a voluntary organisation made up of representatives of the cosmetic manufacturers. This panel assesses the toxicity of ingredients that go into cosmetics and it decides for itself which ingredients to test and which hat to test.
In the European Union, the manufacture of cosmetics is regulated by the European Cosmetics Directive which again puts the safety testing on the manufacturers themselves. Government agencies on both sides of the Atlantic have powers to oversee this process, but in practice their role is mainly advisory and their powers are limited.
Repeated exposure to quite low levels of chemicals can cause the body's nervous system to be affected and the immune system to be compromised, resulting in susceptibility to an ever wider range of allergy triggers.
All these problems have emerged within the past fifty or so years, in line with the growth of the petrochemical industry. Petrochemicals are used in many materials and substances that we use every day, including plastics, detergents, medications, herbicides, pesticides, solvents, fuel oils, etc.
The personal care and cosmetics products that we use are often made from these industrially produced synthetic chemicals whose long-term effects are not known.
The weak regulation that is in place is failing to protect us. There are concerns that the allergies and sensitivities that we experience now may be the precursors to more serious problems such as cancer, reproductive disorders and birth defects.
And people who work in the beauty industry, such as hairdressers, manicurists and cosmetologists, may be exposed to much higher levels of potentially dangerous toxins.
For the sake of our own health and that of our children we should question the assurances we receive that chemical ingredients are 'safe,' and we should demand answers to the questions that an increasingly sceptical public are asking about the necessity of including untested chemicals in the products that we buy.
Cosmetic and personal care products manufacturers are required by law to print the product's ingredients on the packaging.
The ingredients have to be listed in descending order of weight: therefore the first ingredient of the list is the one which is the most present in weight or the product. Ingredients which are present in concentrations of less than 1% may be listed in any order after those in concentrations of 1% or more. Colouring agents may be listed after all the other ingredients.
Most cosmetics include 'aqua' (water) and 'parfum' (perfume) in their list of ingredients. In the case of perfumes, there is no requirement for the manufacturers to list the component ingredients of perfumes (many contain dozens of components), and so there is no way of knowing exactly what is in them.
The names of cosmetic ingredients appearing in ingredients lists are the standardised names which have been agreed between the EU Commission in Europe and the Food and Drug Administration in the USA. Using these common names has made it easier to import and export cosmetic products between markets which have similar regulations.
However, these chemical-sounding names are not very helpful in knowing what is in a product
- To most consumers, the list of Ingredients in a cosmetic product is incomprehensible.
- To a trained chemist, the list of ingredients is similarly meaningless because it does not convey the formal definition of the chemical compound. Chemicals have a precise and formal definition which can be much longer than a couple of words. So these ingredient lists, which are a type of shorthand notation agreed by those in the know, don't really serve a very useful function.
The packaging of the product is designed to sell the product, not to provide information to the consumer. When you buy the product, you are buying the dream — your decision to buy is based on hope and the manufacturers are betting on the probability that you don't really want to know what's in the bottle.
Save your Skin and your Money,
Make your own!
