The Most Dangerous Food Additives Still Legal in the US
These 20 additives carry an AVOID rating in our safety system — meaning they have been banned or restricted in other jurisdictions, have accumulated significant adverse event reports, or are under active regulatory review. All remain FDA-approved in the United States as of April 2026. Ranked by documented adverse event reports from OpenFDA.
Why These Additives Are Concerning
What "AVOID" means in our system
An AVOID rating is assigned when at least one of the following conditions is met: (1) the substance is banned or formally restricted in the EU, UK, or another major market; (2) the FDA has issued a warning, recall, or revocation action; (3) peer-reviewed literature has identified a significant dose-response association with adverse outcomes. Being FDA-approved does not preclude an AVOID rating — FDA approval reflects a regulatory determination, not the absence of risk evidence.
Adverse event data — methodology note
Adverse event counts are sourced from the OpenFDA CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS). An adverse event report is a consumer- or manufacturer-submitted account of a health issue associated with a food product. Adverse event counts are not causation — they indicate signal volume. High counts may reflect product prevalence as much as inherent risk.
Ranked List — AVOID Additives
Ordered by OpenFDA adverse event count, highest first. All remain FDA-approved as of April 2026.
2-butanol is a four-carbon alcohol used as a flavoring agent and flavor enhancer in food products. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and is not classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) for food use in the United States.
Acetamide (CAS 60-35-5) is a small organic compound classified as a flavoring agent or adjuvant in food applications. It is not currently approved as a food additive by the FDA and is not on the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list.
Acetic anhydride (CAS 108-24-7) is a chemical compound used as a flavoring agent or flavoring adjuvant in food production. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and is not on the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list for food use in the United States.
Acrolein is a volatile organic compound with antimicrobial properties that has been investigated for food preservation applications. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and is not listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
Amyl alcohol is a volatile organic compound used as a flavoring agent and flavor enhancer in food products. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and is not designated as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).
Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is a synthetic chemical used as a dough conditioner and flour treatment agent in baking. It strengthens gluten networks and improves dough handling properties, making it widely used in commercial bread production.
Benzene (CAS 71-43-2) is a volatile organic compound and aromatic hydrocarbon. It is not approved for intentional addition to food by the FDA and is not recognized as having a known food additive function.
Benzothiazole is an organic compound classified as a flavoring agent and flavor enhancer used in the food industry. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and has limited regulatory acceptance for direct food use in most jurisdictions.
Biphenyl (diphenyl) is an organic compound used as a flavoring agent and flavor enhancer in food products. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and has limited use in food applications globally.
Boric acid (CAS 10043-35-3) is a naturally occurring compound that functions as a lubricant or release agent in food manufacturing. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and is not recognized as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for food use.
Calamus is a flavoring agent derived from the rhizome of Acorus calamus plant, historically used to impart warm, spicy notes to beverages and foods. Due to toxicological concerns, particularly regarding the compound beta-asarone, calamus has been prohibited in food use by the FDA and other major regulatory bodies.
Calamus extract is a flavoring substance derived from the rhizome of Acorus calamus (sweet flag plant). It has been prohibited in food use by the FDA due to safety concerns, despite limited adverse event reports in the agency's database.
Calamus oil (CAS 8015-79-0) is an essential oil derived from the calamus plant, historically used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages. It has been prohibited in food products in the United States and many other countries due to safety concerns regarding its toxic constituents.
Calcium cyclamate is a synthetic non-nutritive sweetener approximately 30-40 times sweeter than sucrose. It was widely used in beverages and processed foods but has been prohibited in many countries, including the United States, due to regulatory decisions based on animal study findings.
Chlorofluorocarbon 113 (CFC-113) is a synthetic refrigerant compound historically used as a freezing and cooling agent in direct contact with food products. Due to environmental concerns regarding ozone layer depletion, this substance has been phased out globally and is no longer permitted for food contact applications in most jurisdictions.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are synthetic compounds that were historically used as propellants in food aerosol products. These substances have been prohibited in food applications due to their significant environmental impact on ozone depletion, rather than direct food safety concerns.
Chloroform (trichloromethane) is a volatile organic compound historically used as a processing aid in food manufacturing. It is no longer approved for use in food in most jurisdictions due to regulatory restrictions and the availability of safer alternatives.
Chloromethyl methyl ether (CAS 107-30-2) is a chemical compound used as a processing aid in food manufacturing. It is not approved as a food additive by the FDA and is not listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
Cinnamyl anthranilate is a synthetic chemical compound that was once considered for use as a flavoring agent or adjuvant in food products. However, due to safety concerns identified in animal studies, its use in food is prohibited in the United States and it has never been approved for food use in the European Union.
Citrus Red No. 2 is a synthetic azo dye colorant used primarily to color the skin of oranges and certain citrus fruits. It is not approved for use in the United States but is permitted in some other countries for specific citrus applications.
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Disclaimer
This ranking presents publicly available regulatory and adverse event data for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Safety ratings reflect our editorial interpretation of available data and do not constitute official regulatory determinations. All listed additives are FDA-approved. Consult your healthcare provider for dietary guidance. Data sourced from FDA EAFUS, EFSA, and OpenFDA CAERS as of April 2026.