Preservatives Guides

Guides in this cluster

Illustration of two bowls of cream cheese, one dairy and one plant-based, on a board

Comparisons · October 26, 2026

Is Kite Hill Real Cream Cheese? No Dairy, vs Philadelphia

No: Kite Hill is an almond-milk cream cheese alternative with two gums; FDA's cream cheese standard uses dairy. Sodium and fat vs Philadelphia, per serving.

Illustration of two open lunch kit trays holding turkey slices, cheddar cubes and crackers

Comparisons · October 25, 2026

Is Lunchly Healthier Than Lunchables? 6 g vs 14 g Added Sugar

Lunchly Turkey Stack 'Ems lists 6 g added sugar to the Lunchables Turkey & Cheddar Fun Pack's 14 g, but 13 g fat vs 8 g; both are 250 calories.

Illustration of Two hummus bowls side by side with chickpeas and pita wedges

Comparisons · October 25, 2026

Does Sabra Hummus Have Preservatives? Yes; Cedar's Skips Sorbate

Sabra Classic lists potassium sorbate; Cedar's Original Hommus uses citric acid and no sorbate. Compare oils, sodium (130 vs 115 mg) and fat per 2 Tbsp.

Illustration of a smoked meat stick and a pile of jerky strips beside a celery stalk on a wooden board

Comparisons · October 25, 2026

Does Slim Jim Have Nitrites? Yes. Slim Jim vs Jack Link's Jerky

Slim Jim Original lists sodium nitrite; Jack Link's Original uses cultured celery extract. Compare protein (6 g vs 10 g), sodium, sugar and allergens per serving.

Illustration of two stacks of thin sliced roasted turkey breast on a wooden cutting board

Comparisons · October 23, 2026

Oscar Mayer vs Hillshire Turkey: Nitrates? 530 vs 600 mg Sodium

Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh vs Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin oven roasted turkey: 530 vs 600 mg sodium per 2 oz, celery powder, carrageenan and the nitrate claim.

Illustration of a white powder in a glass bowl next to a loaf of bread

Ingredient Reviews · September 25, 2026

Calcium Propionate: The Bread Mold Inhibitor, Explained

Calcium propionate (E 282) keeps bread mold-free. What FDA and EFSA concluded, and what small human studies on blood sugar hormones found.

Illustration of a clear glass bottle next to a small bowl of cat food

Ingredient Reviews · September 11, 2026

Is Propylene Glycol (E1520) Safe? Food Uses, Cats, and Labels

Propylene glycol carries flavors and keeps food moist. FDA and EFSA limits, why it is not antifreeze, the Fireball recall, cat toxicity, and label names.

Illustration of A small pile of white powder next to a clear glass jar of liquid

Ingredient Reviews · September 11, 2026

What Is Xanthan Gum? Uses, Safety, Gut Health, and Labels

Learn what xanthan gum is, why it is added to food and cosmetics, how it affects gut health, key safety regulations, and who should avoid it.

Illustration of a bowl of crunchy cereal next to a bag of potato chips

Ingredient Reviews · September 11, 2026

Is BHT (E321) Safe? Uses, Limits, FDA Review, and Labels

BHT (E321) keeps cereal and chips from going rancid. FDA and EFSA limits, the IARC Group 3 rating, the 2026 FDA reassessment, and how to spot it on labels.

Illustration of a wine bottle next to a pile of dried apricots

Ingredient Reviews · September 10, 2026

Are Sulfites Safe? Wine, Dried Fruit, Asthma, and Labels

Sulfites (E220-E228) preserve wine, dried fruit and shrimp. Who reacts, why the FDA banned them on raw produce in 1986, the 10 ppm label rule, and EFSA's 2022 verdict.

Illustration of A frying pan with a golden-brown potato chip and a small bottle of oil

Ingredient Reviews · September 10, 2026

Is TBHQ (E319) Safe? Uses, Limits, and Label Names

TBHQ (E319) keeps frying oils and snacks from going rancid. What the FDA limit and EFSA ADI mean, what the immune-cell studies show, and how to spot it on labels.

Illustration of a clear glass jar filled with a creamy white substance and a small spoon

Ingredient Reviews · September 9, 2026

Is Polysorbate 80 (E433) Safe? Uses, Gut Health, and Labels

Learn what polysorbate 80 (E433) is, why it is added to foods and supplements, what the latest research says about gut health, and how to spot it on labels.

Illustration of a cured meat slice with a magnifying glass over it

Ingredient Reviews · September 9, 2026

Is Sodium Nitrite Safe? Cured Meat, Nitrosamines, and Labels

Learn what sodium nitrite is, why it is added to cured meats, its health risks, the celery powder label loophole, and how to read food labels accurately.

Illustration of A small white bowl filled with crystalline white powder next to a spice grinder

Ingredient Reviews · September 9, 2026

Is MSG (Monosodium Glutamate, E621) Safe? Uses and Labels

Learn what monosodium glutamate (MSG, E621) is, why it is added to foods, how your gut metabolizes it, and how FDA and EFSA evaluate its safety.

Illustration of A clear glass jar filled with a white powdery substance next to a magnifying glass

Ingredient Reviews · September 8, 2026

Is Carboxymethylcellulose (Cellulose Gum, E466) Safe?

Carboxymethylcellulose (cellulose gum, E466): how it is made, where it hides, the 2022 human emulsifier trial on gut health, FDA vs EU status, and how to spot it.

Illustration of a wedge of cheese and a glass of red wine

Ingredient Reviews · September 4, 2026

What Is Potassium Sorbate? Uses, Safety, Labels, and Risks

Learn what potassium sorbate is, why it is used in cheese, wine, and cosmetics, how your body processes it, and whether it poses any health or gut risks.

Ingredient Reviews · September 4, 2026

What Is Butylated Hydroxyanisole? Uses, Labels, and Safety

A plain-English review of Butylated Hydroxyanisole: what it is, why it appears on labels, safety context, common uses, and sources.

Illustration of a clear glass jar filled with white powder next to a food label

Ingredient Reviews · September 4, 2026

What Is Sodium Benzoate? Uses, Labels, and Safety

A plain-English review of Sodium Benzoate: what it is, why it appears on labels, safety context, common uses, and sources.