by Mike Critelli, 

As we prepare to launch our innovative browser-based tool designed to alert you about harmful food additives and preservatives, it's important to first understand why these substances are so prevalent in today's food supply. Producers, retailers, restaurants, and bakeries all incorporate additives into their products—but why?

Historical Context: From Daily Markets to Supermarket Shelves

A century ago, shopping for food was a daily activity, driven largely by seasonal availability. Advances like frozen vegetables were groundbreaking during my childhood, allowing food choices to become less seasonal. Today, this innovation has significantly expanded—but it has also introduced a range of artificial additives and preservatives to our diets.

Why Food Producers Rely on Additives

Food producers use additives for several reasons:

• Preservation and Shelf Life: Additives prevent spoilage caused by bacteria, mold, and oxidation. Without them, food would need more frequent replenishment, increasing costs and reducing supermarket shelf space.

• Visual Appeal: Artificial colors make foods appear fresh, vibrant, and consistently appealing, capitalizing on consumer preferences.

• Flavor Enhancement and Sweetness: Producers exploit our natural attraction to sugar and sodium, creating addictive products. However, gradual reduction of these additives can still maintain food appeal while improving health. Personally, I've significantly reduced my sugar intake by substituting cinnamon for sugar on fruits.

• Improved Texture and Mouthfeel: Additives enhance the crunchiness of snacks or the smoothness of desserts through emulsifiers and stabilizers, increasing consumer pleasure.

• Processing and Packaging Ease: Certain additives help prevent food products from sticking during processing and packaging.

• Cost and Waste Reduction: Ultimately, nearly all additives aim to reduce costs by extending product shelf life and minimizing waste.

Hidden Health Risks and Global Differences

Unfortunately, this widespread use of additives has effectively turned consumers into unwitting participants in a decades-long experiment, likely compromising our health. Many additives commonly used in the United States, such as certain artificial colorings, preservatives, and flavor enhancers, have been linked to various health concerns including allergic reactions, hyperactivity in children, and even increased risks of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart conditions.

Unlike the European Union, which operates under the "precautionary principle" and strictly regulates food additives—often banning substances that the FDA routinely permits—the United States maintains a more lenient stance. During visits to Germany, where my daughter has lived for three years, I've noticed distinct nutritional differences: smaller portions, significantly less added sugar and sodium, and clearer labeling practices. European consumers are often more aware of what is in their food, enabling healthier nutritional decisions.

Taking Back Control of Our Nutritional Choices

The goal of our newsletter and the browser-based product we're developing is to increase awareness about the hidden additives and preservatives in your diet—and their cumulative health effects. Importantly, these additives weren't demanded by us, just as European consumers don't actively demand their absence. Instead, we've collectively prioritized convenience and affordability, inadvertently sacrificing our health.

This issue is not irreversible. Consider how societal attitudes have shifted regarding tobacco use and drunk driving—both have dramatically declined due to informed choices and collective action. Additionally, while the popularity of weight-loss medications might reduce calorie intake and support short-term weight management, they do not inherently guide us toward healthier, nutritionally balanced choices. Without addressing the underlying dietary patterns and food quality, weight-loss medications alone may offer only partial and temporary solutions.

Encouraging Awareness and Informed Choices

We encourage you to join this ongoing conversation, staying informed about food additives and preservatives. Awareness and informed decisions are essential steps toward healthier living and improving our overall nutritional standards.