Additives to Avoid During Pregnancy
Additives pregnant women should be cautious about. 60 additives listed.
Yellow dye. EU requires warning label: may have adverse effect on activity and attention in children
Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted in EU
EU requires warning label for children
Yellow azo dye. Delisted, not permitted in EU
Yellow azo dye. Withdrawn from EU approved list in 2007
Orange-yellow dye. EU warning label required
Orange dye. Delisted in EU
Red dye. Not permitted in EU. Approved in US only for orange peel coloring
Red dye. EU warning label required
Red dye. Banned in US (Red No. 2). Limited use in EU
Red dye. EU warning label required. Banned in US
Red dye. Formerly used, now delisted
Red dye. Delisted in EU
Red dye. Limited to cocktail cherries in EU
Red dye. Withdrawn from EU in 2007 over safety concerns
Red dye (Red 40 in US). EU warning label required
Blue dye. Delisted in EU
Black dye. Not approved in US
Brown dye. Not approved in US
White color. Banned in EU since Aug 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns. Still legal in US
Red-brown dye from lichen. Formerly used, delisted
Paraben preservative. Delisted in EU
Banned in EU for food use since 2006. Still used in US cosmetics
Banned in EU. Paraben concerns
Citrus fruit fungicide. Removed from EU approved list in 2005
Citrus peel fungicide. Removed from EU food additives list
Sodium salt of OPP. Removed from EU list
Fungicide for citrus/banana skins. Now classified as pesticide, not food additive
Antibacterial. Delisted as food additive in EU
Delisted in EU as food additive
Delisted in EU as food additive
Highly toxic. Banned worldwide as food additive. Known carcinogen (IARC Group 1)
Synthetic antioxidant. Removed from EU approved list in 2018
Synthetic antioxidant. Removed from EU approved list in 2018
Synthetic antioxidant. Classified as possible carcinogen by IARC. EU restricts use; more freely used in US
Synthetic antioxidant. Health debate ongoing. EU restricts; US broader use
Antioxidant banned as food additive. Was used in animal feed, suspended by EU in 2017
Sugar alcohol. Laxative effect in large amounts
Sugar alcohol
Synthetic emulsifier. Delisted in EU
Synthetic emulsifier. Delisted in EU
Banned in EU. Was used in citrus drinks. Also banned in US since 2024
Antibiotic growth promoter. Banned in EU food since 2006. Was used in animal feed
Antibiotic group. Banned as food additive/growth promoter in EU
Antibiotic. Banned as food/feed additive in EU. Formerly used in poultry
Antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU since 2006
Macrolide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU. Still used therapeutically
Streptogramin antibiotic. Banned in EU in 1999 as growth promoter
Macrolide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU
Antibiotic growth promoter. Banned in EU in 1999
Glycopeptide antibiotic. Banned in EU in 1997 due to vancomycin resistance concerns
Antibiotic growth promoter. Banned in EU in 2006
Ionophore coccidiostat. Banned as growth promoter. Still used in poultry against coccidiosis
Ionophore. Banned as growth promoter in EU. Used in US cattle
Banned in EU since 1999. Still approved in US for swine. Carcinogen concerns
Growth promoter. Banned in EU in 1999 due to mutagenicity
Glycopeptide antibiotic. Banned in EU
Orthosomycin antibiotic. Last antibiotic growth promoter banned in EU in 2006
Polymyxin antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter. Last-resort antibiotic for humans, resistance is major concern
Polypeptide antibiotic. Banned as growth promoter in EU