Top 10 Worst Food Preservatives You Need to Avoid

10. Titanium Dioxide

© Comic Vine // Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Bakin’

Titanium dioxide is used in paint, plastics, sunscreen, and yes, food. It is included in processed foods, such as chocolate bars, vanilla pudding, doughnuts, and whipped cream, for the creamy texture it can provide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), titanium dioxide is a potential carcinogen to humans. Tests on rats have shown that elevated levels of this preservative can lead to respiratory tract cancer.

Another research suggests that titanium dioxide nanoparticles have toxic effects on brain cells and may lead the affected person to develop degenerative brain diseases. Kids are particularly sensitive to large amounts of titanium dioxide, as they tend to consume more sugary products which include titanium dioxide than adults.

To conclude, anything that’s added to food for extra flavor or to preserve the product is only good in theory. To avoid serious health problems, always check the ingredients of any food you buy and try to avoid artificial preservatives and chemicals at all costs.