Most people focus on nutrition labels for calories, fat, or sugar. But lurking beyond the fine print are dangers that never make it onto the ingredient label: and if you're not really careful these Cancer causing additives in food are quietly making their deadly way into our meals. It's a cumulative effect. The more you eat the more toxins your body accumulates until your liver just can't remove these toxins anymore. Let’s break down which additives are most concerning—and what you can do to protect your health.
DES (Diethylstilbestrol) in Meat: An Invisible Threat
When you pick up meat at a U.S. grocery store, it may have traces of diethylstilbestrol (DES). Used in 85% of American meat production, DES is a synthetic hormone added to promote rapid animal growth. This chemical persists in the final product, leaving dangerous residues in the meat we eat.
While DES was banned decades ago for use in humans due to an association with cancer, the meat industry continued using it for livestock. Even small traces are enough to cause concern. Many countries, including those in the European Union, have refused to import U.S. meat because of these residues, putting consumer safety over profits.
Artificial Sweeteners: Aspartame and Saccharin
Sugar-free snacks and diet sodas often promise guilt-free indulgence. But the replacements—mainly aspartame and saccharin—have been the subject of health debates for years. Both are common artificial sweeteners that the FDA deems safe in limited amounts. However, various studies link prolonged consumption to increased risks of cancer, especially bladder and brain cancers.
Even moderate use of artificial sweeteners could disrupt your body’s chemistry, leading researchers to suggest limiting these substances, especially in children and pregnant women. Diabetics in particular are at risk. Believe it or not regular sugar is healthier than artificial sweeteners, not that sugar is healthy, not at all, but artificial sweeteners in particular are very concerning.
Nitrites in Processed Meats
Bacon, cold cuts, and hot dogs get their tempting pink hue and longer shelf life thanks to nitrites. Commonly added as preservatives, nitrites prevent bacteria but transform into cancer-causing nitrosamines during cooking. The World Health Organization classified processed meats as carcinogenic partly because of these compounds.
Nitrites can form into nitrosamines which is associated with increased risk of cancer especially colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer and other health problems such as high blood pressure and heart problems.
Exposure to very high levels can cause trouble breathing, collapse and even death.
Sodium nitrite can react with hemoglobin in the blood, forming methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen effectively. This can lead to a range of symptoms, from mild fatigue and headaches to more severe complications like loss of consciousness, seizures, and cardiac arrest.
If you have ever witnessed elderly people collapsing at a restaurant (I have) or at home after a heavy meat meal, this preservative might be a contributing factor.
Look for sodium nitrate on the food labels. Alternative names: sodium nitrite, nitrate, nitrite.
Potassium Bromate
Most packaged baked goods are made with flour that contains potassium bromate. It doesn't have to listed as an ingredient on Nutrition labels because its added directly into the flour after processing. This chemical is added to flour to help it rise higher.
Potassium bromate is classified as a Group B Carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Studies on animals have shown that potassium bromate can cause an increased incidence of tumors in organs such as the kidneys and thyroid.
Due to health concerns, potassium bromate has been banned as a food additive in many countries, including the European Union, Canada, and Brazil. California is banning it as of 2027. Yet the FDA hasn't reviewed its safety since 1973.
At Josephs Organic Bakery we never use any dough risers or conditioners such as bromated flour. If you are looking for healthy, additive free, ancient grain bread click here
EINKORN BREAD- the bread with only 3 Ingredients (No additives, no dough conditioners, no Potassium Bromate)
Food Dyes: More Than Just Color
Artificial food colors are everywhere—from cereals to sodas to snack cakes. What’s less known is their use in fish and meat. Many fish products, including salmon or tilapia, are dyed pink or red to appear fresher—even after natural color fades post-harvest.
Similarly, red dyes are sprayed on meats to keep them looking "market fresh" long after being processed. Synthetic dyes are linked to hyperactivity in children and possible cancer risks. Red 40 has also been linked to increased inflammation and DNA damage.
- Red Dye No. 3:The FDA banned this dye from food in January 2025 after it was found to cause cancer in male rats.
- Other dyes: Other artificial dyes, such as Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are also being studied for potential health effects.
- Contamination: Some dyes like Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 have been found to be contaminated with potentially cancer-causing chemicals
Rancid Oils in Restaurant Fryers
Everyone loves crispy fries or golden fried chicken. But most restaurants reuse inexpensive oils well beyond their safe limit. Repeated heating creates harmful free radicals and carcinogens, increasing your risk over time. The unhealthy oils, especially if partially hydrogenated, degrade further each time they're heated.
To reduce your exposure to these hidden dangers:
- Avoid fried fast food.
- Use fresh, stable oils (like cold pressed organic olive) when cooking at home.
Simple Steps to Reduce Your Risk
Cancer causing additives in food can feel overwhelming, but with a little attention you can cut your exposure dramatically:
- Avoid processed foods entirely
- Buy unprocessed, organic, or locally sourced meats and produce.
- Limit restaurant fried foods and opt for cooking with fresh oils.
- Do a Liver and Kidney Cleanse periodically- to remove toxins from the body. This will help unclog your liver and help your body clear out unwanted chemicals it is struggling to remove. (see product below for more info or just click here)
