FOOD ADDITIVES WORKSHEET
High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
What is HFCS and what is it used for?
Why is HFCS so dangerous in our
diets?
What are the side effects of
consuming HFCS?
Trans Fats
What health ailments are linked to
trans fats?
What key words can you look for to
identify whether a food contains
trans fats?
Artificial Flavors
What are flavors and what is the
purpose of them?
Where are artificial flavors typically
found?
Why does the FDA NOT require
companies to disclose ingredients for
flavorings? What is the only
requirement they must adhere to?
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
What are some adverse reactions to
MSG that have been reported by
consumers?
How does MSG enhance the flavors
of foods?
What are some unfavorable
symptoms that have been linked to
MSG?
What are some names that can be
used on food labels to “hide” the fact
that the product has MSG?
Artificial Colors
What is the purpose of artificial
colors?
Artificial colors are reported to be
linked to hyperactivity – why would
this be of concern?
Artificial Sweeteners
Why would people use an artificial
sweetener?
What are some reactions that people
have reported after consuming
aspartame?
Why is the use of artificial
sweeteners risky in general?
Preservatives
What is the purpose of
preservatives?
Briefly describe the risks involved in the following preservatives and research to find a product that
contains the preservative:
BHA and BHT
Polysorbate 60, 65, and 80
Sodium benzoate
Sulfites
TBHQ
Potassium sorbate
Nitrates
What are some ways that we can avoid consuming the “scary seven”
additives?