The generalized name for sweet, short-chains of soluble carbohydrates. The world produced about 168 million tonnes of sugar in 2011. The average person consumes about 24 kilograms (53 lb) of sugar each year (33.1 kg in industrialised countries), equivalent to over 260 food calories per person, per day. New FDA nutrition facts labels recommend no more than 50g of added sugars per day. Potential negative health effects of excess sugar consumption include addiction, Alzheimer's disease, changes in blood glucose levels, cardiovascular disease, hyperactivity, obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.
The FDA requires the term artificial flavor or artificial flavoring be applied for any substance, the function of which is to impart flavor, which is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof. Conversely, the term natural flavor or natural flavoring applies to any substance to impart flavor that is derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof.
Common salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride. Salt is essential for animal life, and saltiness is one of the basic human tastes. In general, Americans should limit daily sodium consumption to 2,300 milligrams, but this is an upper safe limit, not a recommended daily allowance.
Calcium carbonate is used in the production of calcium oxide as well as toothpaste and has seen a resurgence as a food preservative and color retainer, when used in or with products such as organic apples. Added vitamins and nutrients may lack the nutritional benefit of naturally present vitamins and nutrients.
Caramel color or caramel coloring is a water-soluble food coloring and one of the most widely used food colorings. It is widely approved for use in food globally but application and use level restrictions vary by country. California has listed a compound formed in the manufacture of Class III and IV caramel colors in the state's Proposition 65, thus legally including it in the category of chemicals "known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity".
An artificial sweetener made from sucrose (sugar) and chlorine molecules. It is often mixed with a bulking agent such as maltodextrin or dextrose to give it the granularity and appearance of table sugar. The most common brand name is Splenda. It is over 500 times sweeter than sugar and does not affect blood sugar or insulin levels. It is extremely common in processed foods and is marketed as diet friendly, "sugar-free" and "safe for diabetics."
Sunflower oil is derived from the seeds of the sunflower plant and is commonly used in processed foods. Modern Western diets typically have ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 in excess of 10 to 1, some as high as 30 to 1, partly due to sunflower oil which has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 1:0. The optimal ratio is thought to be 4 to 1 or lower.