Dangerous Food Additives

 From: People for Ethical Living

Dangerous Food Additives

Food additives are making you sick, the FDA knows it and does not do a thing about it. Are you?

 In the United States today, we are all being constantly bombarded by chemicals, poisons and toxins.  Virtually everything that we eat or drink makes us less healthy.  The vast majority of Americans gladly consume aspartame, fluoride, BPA, genetically-modified food, pesticides, high fructose corn syrup, pharmaceutical drugs and toxic vaccines without any concern that those substances may ruin their health.  But the truth is that we are getting sicker and sicker and sicker as a nation.  According to one recent report, the United States has dropped to 49th place in the world in overall life expectancy.  Diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes are absolutely exploding.   Thousands of toxins, carcinogens and chemicals are being put into what we eat and what we drink, courtesy of the FDA and the USDA. Shamefully these chemicals were tested on helpless animals who were injected, poisoned and died from their exposure. Still in spite of the obvious dangerous side effects collected from countless data, first to animals and to humans, the corporate food giants, Kelloggs, General Mills, Nestle, Coca Cola, etc… along with the powerful pharmaceutical and chemical lobby push and sell their unhealthy business practices to our sold out government agencies. Start reading labels and do not buy food with additives and chemicals. True, there may not be much left. Then find alternatives, start protesting to your supermarket, to your representatives, find a food co-op in your area. It is your health and your life that is at stake. The next time you go to the supermarket, pick up a few products and read the labels. You will be shocked by what you find.

With the blessing of our government, food producers and manufacturers mislead you into thinking that food additives “improve” the nutritional value of food.  Keywords in Washington are profit  and election support.

Words like “improved”, “enriched” foods have actually been stripped of their original nutrients, so the manufacturers add a few synthetic vitamins and minerals to artificially give it some nutritional value.The final products have fewer nutrients than the starting product and they are not well received by our bodies as they would have been in their natural state.

Preservatives allow food to sit on shelves for a very long time, but while it may be beneficial for the corporation and their profit quotas, they are very bad for your health.
There are many chemicals to change the texture of food and instant mashed potatoes is even lighter and fluffier than anything you could ever make at home, but it also has no nutritional value left in it, just bad carbs and fats (usually from an animal source).

Artificial flavors exist for the sole purpose of adding something extra to the taste of denatured foods which after they have been so processed would not otherwise taste anything like expected: Fake lemon flavor, fake butter flavor, fake berry flavor, to make up for the fact that none of these ingredients were actually used to make the item.

Food companies pick oranges that are green and unripe, and simply add some dyes to make them look like what you wish them to look like. Dyes and salts are added to meat, colorants, artificial flavors, considerable amounts of unhealthy sugars and thickeners are tampering with traditionally healthy foods, staples in a child’s diet, such as yogurt and juice drinks.

 

Acesulfame Potassium (also known as Acesulfame K)

Acesulfame K is a relatively new calorie-free artificial sweetener. It is many times sweeter than table sugar but has a slightly bitter aftertaste. It is marketed as DiabetiSweet and Sweet One. It is used in chewing gum, baked goods, and gelatin desserts

Possible side effects: In some research studies, this sweetener caused lung, cancer, and thymus gland tumors in rats. It also caused leukemia and chronic respiratory disease and has now been linked to breast cancer. In humans, it can cause low blood sugar attacks (reactive hypoglycemia).

 

Alginic Acid                                                                                       

Alginic acid is used as gelling agent to thicken drinks and foods, salad dressings, soups, jellies, cheese spreads and dips, ice cream and other frozen desserts              
Possible side effects: birth defects, complications in pregnancy

 

Alpha-Tocopherol

The form of vitamin E most commonly added to foods and most readily absorbed and stored in the body. An essential nutrient, it helps prevent oxidative damage to the cells and plays a crucial role in skin health and disease prevention. Found in Meats, foods with added fats, and foods that boast vitamin E health claims; also occurs naturally in seeds, nuts, leafy vegetables, and vegetable oils, V8 .

Possible side effects:In the amount added to foods, tocopherols pose no apparent health risks, but because it is added to so many things. Concentrated supplements might bring on toxicity symptoms such as cramps, weakness, and double vision.

Artificial Flavoring

Denotes any of hundreds of allowable chemicals such as butyl alcohol and phenylacetaldehyde dimethyl acetal. The exact chemicals used in flavoring are the proprietary information of food processors, used to imitate specific fruits, butter, spices, and so on. Food flavorings are found thousands of highly processed foods such as cereals, beverages, and cookies, juices, candies, etc…The FDA has approved every item on the list of allowable chemicals, but because flavorings can hide behind a blanket term, there is no way for consumers to pinpoint the cause of a reaction they might have had. Most artificial flavorings are banned in food production in EU.

 

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener. It is marketed under the brand names of NutraSweet and Equal. Many people with diabetes use aspartame instead of table sugar. You’ll find it in sugar-free beverages, gum, candy, instant desserts, low-calorie desserts, gelatin, drink mixes,” lite” and “diet” labels, power bars, soft drinks, and some brands of chewable vitamin supplements.Today, aspartame is an ingredient in literally thousands of different food and drink products.  In fact, it is often marketed in “health products” such as diet sodas.
Serious side effects: headaches, nausea, depression, rashes, seizures, dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, ringing in the ears, and hallucinations. Some studies show that it may even cause cancer. Learn more about the dangers of aspartame. According to an article on Mercola.com, aspartame is one of the most toxic substances being added to our foods….Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death.  A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, serious vision and eye disorder dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.

Researchers and physicians like Dr Janet Hull studying the adverse effects of aspartame, found that the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting of aspartame:  Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

 

Benzoic Acid

Benzoic acid is used as a food preservative. It prevents the growth of mold, yeast, and some bacteria.You’ll find it in jams, jelly, fruit juice, margarine, beer, pickled vegetables, soft drinks, mincemeat, and barbecue sauce.

Possible side effects: asthma attacks, rashes, irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes, hyperactivity in children, neurological disorders

 

BHA and BHT (Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene)

BHA and BHT are Petroleum-derived antioxidants that are used as preservatives used to preserve fats and oils.  They prevent foods from oxidizing and spoiling too quickly.You’ll find it in breakfast cereals, chewy granola bars, desserts, candy, chewing gum, potato chips, vegetable oils, shortening, butter and sausage. Petroleum-derived antioxidants used to preserve fats and oils.          
                                         
Side effects: BHA and BHT are oxidants which form potentially cancer-causing reactive compounds in your body. Other side effects of these food additives include elevated cholesterol, liver and kidney damage, infertility, sterility, immune disorders, increased susceptibility to carcinogens, and behavioral problems. The Department of Health and Human Services classifies the preservative as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”

 

Bisphenol-A (BPA)  

BPA is one of the most widely used chemicals in the entire world.  If you eat canned food or you drink bottled water you most likely have BPA in your home and you don’t even know it.
According to Natural News, BPA is not only in virtually every American home and has  been linked to some very serious health problems….

It is used to harden plastic in everything from infant and water bottles to mobile phone and computer casings, and also to make linings for cans of food, beverages and infant formula. Yet a growing body of research has implicated the chemical as an endocrine (hormone) disruptor that can lead to cancer, birth defects, behavioral problems and other diseases.

 

Blue #1 (Brilliant Blue) and Blue #2 (Indigotine)

Synthetic dyes that can be used alone or combined with other dyes to make different colors.Found in: Blue, purple, and green foods like beverages, cereals, ice creams candy, icing.    
                                                                                                    
Possible side effects: Both dyes have been linked to cancers in animal studies, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest recommends that they be avoided. They are banned in the EU.

 

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

Brominated vegetable oil is used as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soft drinks. It prevents the oil and other liquids from separating.You’ll find it in soft drinks such as Gatorade, Powerade, Mountain Dew, Fanta, Fresca, and others

Possible side effects: memory loss, loss of muscle coordination, tremors, fatigue, headaches, drooping eyelids. Bromate, the main ingredient is BVO is a deadly poison, especially for children

 

Carrageenan                                                                               

A thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier extracted from red seaweed.Found in Jellies and jams, ice cream, yogurt, and whipped topping.        
                                            
Possible side effects: In animal studies, carrageenan has been shown to cause ulcers, colon inflammation, and digestive cancers. While these results seem limited to degraded carrageenan – a class that has been treated with heat and chemicals – a University of Iowa study concluded that even undegraded carrageenan could become degraded in the human digestive system.

 

Cochineal Extract or Carmine

A pigment extracted from the dried eggs and bodies of the female Dactylopius coccus, a beetle like insect that preys on cactus plants. It is added to food for its dark-crimson color.Found in Artificial crabmeat, fruit juices, frozen-fruit snacks, candy, and yogurt.    

What You Need to Know: Cochineal extract is comprised of about 90 percent insect-body fragments. Although the FDA receives very few complaints, some organizations are asking for a mandatory warning label to accompany cochineal-colored foods.

 

Fluoride

Authorities all over the United States are putting one very toxic chemical, called Fluoride, into our water because it is good for our teeth. In spite of recent warning of the dangers of Fluoride, governments have no intention to tell you and even less stop using the chemical in the water supply. People who can afford it only drink good bottle water or have a full house filtering system.  And since most community disallow the use of a private drinking water well, you only choice is to get a filter system to keep out fluoride.

The Fluoride Dangers blog says that Even small amounts of fluoride consumed from tap water can damage your bones, teeth, brain, disrupt your thyroid function, lower IQ and/or cause cancer, according to evidence revealed in a groundbreaking 2006 National Research Council (NRC) fluoride report produced by a panel of experts who reviewed hundreds of published fluoride studies.

The Natural Health and Longevity Resource warns
1. Fluoride exposure disrupts the synthesis of collagen and leads to the breakdown of collagen in bone, tendon, muscle, skin, cartilage, lungs, kidney and trachea.
2. Fluoride stimulates granule formation and oxygen consumption in white blood cells, but inhibits these processes when the white blood cell is challenged by a foreign agent in the blood.
3. Fluoride depletes the energy reserves and the ability of white blood cells to properly destroy foreign agents by the process of phagocytosis. As little as 0.2 ppm fluoride stimulates superoxide production in resting white blood cells, virtually abolishing phagocytosis. Even micro-molar amounts of fluoride, below 0.1 ppm, may seriously depress the ability of white blood cells to destroy pathogenic agents.
4. Fluoride confuses the immune system and causes it to attack the body’s own tissues, and increases the tumor growth rate in cancer prone individuals.
5. Fluoride inhibits antibody formation in the blood.
6. Fluoride depresses thyroid activity.
7. Fluorides have a disruptive effect on various tissues in the body.
8. Fluoride promotes development of bone cancer.
9. Fluorides cause premature aging of the human body.
10. Fluoride ingestion from mouth rinses and dentifrices in children is extremely hazardous to biological development, life span and general health.

 

Interesterified Fat

Developed in response to demand for trans-fat alternatives, this semisoft fat is created by chemically blending fully hydrogenated and nonhydrogenated oils. Found in Pastries, margarine, frozen dinners, and canned soups.
                            
Possible side effects: Testing on these fats has not been extensive, but the early evidence doesn’t look promising. A study by Malaysian researchers showed a 4-week diet of 12 percent interesterified fats increased the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol, not a good thing. This study also showed an increase in blood glucose levels and a decrease in insulin response.

 

Heterocyclic amines.

Meats, organic or not, that are cooked at high temperatures tend to contain sizable quantities of heterocyclic amines, carcinogens that form as meat cooks. A 2005 amines study showed that nearly 80 percent of studies in humans found a connection between cancer incidence and consumption of well-done meat.A more recent study by the Imperial of London College found that PhIP, one of a group of carcinogens called heterocyclic amines were commonly found in grilled chicken and barbecued meats. The researchers found that very small doses of PhIP caused the cells to exhibit extracellular invasive behavior and concluded that PhIP is not only a potent breast cancer culprit due to its ability to damage DNA, but could also increase the likelihood that breast cancer cells will become metastatic, worsening existing disease.

 

Hexane

is actually a byproduct of gasoline manufacturing. It’s also earned itself the dubious reputation of being a neurotoxin and air pollutant. “Noxious” is a good word to sum up the stuff’s properties. But despite hexane’s obvious dangers to human health, the chemical is regularly used by soybean processors as a solvent. Soaking soybeans in hexane separates the beans’ oil from the protein, allowing nutrition bar and other food producers to pump their products full of soy nourishment.
The use of hexane in nutrition bars is bad enough, but what’s worse is that many bars’ producers use misleading labels like “all-natural” and “made with organic ingredients.” Consumers reach for a Clif, Luna, Mojo, Odwalla, Balance, or Zone Perfect Bar thinking that they’re purchasing a healthy, eco-friendly product.

 

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

High Fructose Corn Syrup is a liquid sweetener .You’ll find it in baked goods, breakfast cereals, cakes, candies, cookies, “fruit” drinks, ice cream, jam, salad dressings, soda pop, soups, and many other processed foods.
Possible side effects: elevated cholesterol, premature aging, obesity, insensitivity of insulin receptors to insulin
Click here to learn more about HFCS.

 

Hydrogenated oils see partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)

A flavor enhancer created when heat and chemicals are used to break down vegetables – most often GMO soy – into their component amino acids. HVP allows food processors to achieve stronger flavors from fewer ingredients. Found in Canned soups and chili, frozen dinners, beef- and chicken-flavored products  
Possible side effects: One effect of hydrolyzing proteins is the creation of MSG, or mono- sodium glutamate. When MSG in food is the result of hydrolyzed protein, the FDA does not require it to be listed on the packaging.

 

Maltodextrin

Sweet and tasteless powder it is used as binding agent for some pharmaceutical products, and many chewable supplements. Found In popular sodas and drinks, candy and most sport performance powders and beverages.           
                                                                           
 Possible side effects: Triggers health issues with people who suffer from Celiac diseases and  allergies to corn, potatoes or wheat .Unexplained weight gain due to the large number of calorie content in maltodextrin causes unexpected  weight gain. Causes reactions similar to wheat, corn or potato allergy like hives, itching, rashes, asthma or allergic rhinitis, bloating and flatulence.

Causes rebound hypoglycemia in body builders, who when taking performance enhancing supplements, suffer from sudden decrease in blood sugar levels after a vigorous  

 

Mannitol

A sugar alcohol that’s 70 percent as sweet as sugar. It provides fewer calories and has a less drastic effect on blood sugar. Found in Sugar-free candy, low-calorie and diet foods, and sugar free chewing gum.                     

Possible side effects: Because sugar alcohols are not fully digested, they can cause intestinal discomfort, gas, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.

 

Methyl iodide

If you need any more proof that your government does not care about you, a potent carcinogen and neurotoxin for use in strawberry field was just approved by Schwartzeneger. 53,000! comments urged California to ban the pesticide. In the end, lobbying and media campaign by the manufacturer Arysta LifeScience put corporate interests ahead of public health. The chemical has proven to induced late-term miscarriages and damages developing fetuses in laboratory animals. Fumigating fields with the gas — even with the strictest regulations — will result in unacceptable exposures to farm workers, surrounding populations and unsuspecting consumers. Such a highly toxic chemical can permeate the fruit itself, leave traces on fruit and leaves and the land.

 Modified Food Starch

A catch-all term describing starches (derived from corn, wheat, potato, or rice) that are modified to change their response to heat or cold, improve their texture, and create efficient emulsifiers, among other reasons. Found in most highly processed foods, low-calorie and diet foods, cookies, frozen meals.
Possible side effects:: The starches themselves appear safe, but they have absolutely no nutritional value. They are just fattening type carbs. and the nondisclosure of the chemicals used in processing causes some nutritionists to question their effects on health.

 

Mono- and Diglycerides

Fats added to foods to bind liquids with fats. They occur naturally in foods and constitute about 1 percent of normal fats. Found in everything from breads, breakfast pastries, baked goods, mash potatoes, peanut butter, ice cream, margarine, baked goods, and whipped topping                       
One of the food industry dirty little secret, you need to know is that they are a source of animal fat (actually from the fat of animals) unless specifically labeled vegetable mono and diglycerides. So when you think you are buying a vegetarian/vegan product such as whole grain bread, look twice.

 

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

The salt of the amino acid glutamic acid,an amino acid, used to enhance the savory quality of foods. MSG alone has little flavor, and exactly how it enhances other foods is unknown. Found in Chili, soups, salt substitutes, seasonings, salad dressings, condiments, chips, frozen entrees, restaurant food, some Asian food, and flavored potato chips and foods with chicken or beef flavoring                                                                                     
Possible side effects: Studies have shown that MSG injected into mice causes brain-cell damage, but the FDA believes these results are not typical for humans. The FDA receives dozens of reaction complaints each year for headaches, serious allergic reactions, central nervous and vascular system problems nausea, headaches, chest pains with heart attack like symptoms, brain edema and weakness.

 

Olestra

Olestra is a synthetic fat that prevents fat from being absorbed in your digestive system. It is marketed under the brand name Olea .You’ll find it in some brands of potato chips.
                                                 
Possible side effects: gas, abdominal cramps, severe diarrhea, and nutritional deficiencies. Olestra prevents you from absorbing fat-soluble nutrients from fruits and vegetables.

Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

A manufactured fat created by forcing hydrogen gas into vegetable fats under extremely high pressure, an unintended effect of which is the creation of trans-fatty acids. Food processors like this fat because of its low cost and long shelf life. Found in margarine, pastries, frozen foods, cakes, cookies, crackers, soups, and nondairy creamers.                
                                                                                  
What you need to know: Trans fat has been shown to contribute to heart disease more so than saturated fat. While most health organizations recommend keeping trans-fat consumption as low as possible, a loophole in the FDA’s labeling requirements allows processors to add as much as 0.49 gram per serving and still claim zero in their nutrition facts. Progressive jurisdictions such as New York City, California, and Boston have approved legislation to phase trans fat out of restaurants, and pressure from watchdog groups might eventually lead to a full ban on the dangerous oil.

 

“Polysorbate 80″. 

Polysorbate 80 is found in a vast array of dairy products and is even used in many vaccines.
According to Drugs.com, “difficulty breathing” is indeed one of the known side effects of Polysorbate 80.Drugs.com says that the following are “common” side effects….

Constipation; cough; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; muscle, joint, back, or stomach pain; nausea or vomiting; pain, swelling, irritation, redness, or bruising at the injection site; unusual tiredness or weakness.                                 In addition, Drugs.com says that the following are severe side effects of Polysorbate 80 that an individual should seek immediate medical attention for….
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blurred vision or vision changes; chest pain; confusion; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sore throat); one-sided weakness; pale skin color; redness, tenderness, or swelling of the calf; seizures; severe diarrhea, dizziness, headache, stomach pain, or vomiting; severe or persistent tiredness or weakness; slurred speech; sudden pain or numbness of an arm or leg; sudden shortness of breath; sudden trouble walking or loss of balance; swelling of the arms or legs; vision or speech problems; weight gain.

 

Propyl Gallate

Propyl gallate is a preservative that is used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling. It is often used together with BHA and BHT. You’ll find it in breakfast cereals, vegetable oil and shortening,mayonnaise, chicken soup base, meat products, candies, chewing gum, and frozen dairy products
Possible side effects: The results of animal studies show that propyl gallate has been linked to cancer. Possible reactions in humans include asthma attacks, allergic reactions, liver and kidney damage, and gastric irritation

 

Red #3 (Erythro-sine) and Red #40 (Allura Red)

Food dyes that are cherry red and orange red, respectively. ‚Ä®Red #40 is the most widely used food dye in America. Found in Fruit cocktail, candy, yogurt, chocolate cake, cereal, beverages, pastries, maraschino cherries, and fruit snacks                                                                    
Serious side effects: The FDA has proposed a ban on Red #3 in the past, but so far the agency has been unsuccessful in implementing it. After the dye was inextricably linked to thyroid tumors in rat studies, the FDA managed to have the liquid form of the dye removed from external drugs and cosmetics.

 

Saccharin

An artificial sweetener 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar. Discovered in 1879, it’s the oldest of the 5 FDA-approved artificial sweeteners. Found in Diet foods, chewing gum, toothpaste, beverages, sugar-free candy, and Sweet ‘N Low                                                                                                                      
Possible side effects: Rat studies in the early ’70s showed saccharin to cause bladder cancer, and the FDA, reacting to these studies, enacted a mandatory warning label to be printed on every saccharin-containing product on the market. The mandate was removed after 20 years, but the question over saccharin’s safety was never resolved. More recent studies show that rats on saccharin-rich diets gain more weight than those on high-sugar diets

 

Sodium Nitrate (aka sodium nitrite)

Sodium nitrate/nitrite is used as a preservative and a flavoring. It is also used to retain the red color in meat products .You’ll find it in bacon, ham, corned beef, hot dogs, sausages, luncheon meats, smoked meats, and smoked fish.

Serious Side effects: According to studies, sodium nitrite/nitrate is linked to certain kinds of cancer, colon cancer, especially once the meat has been subjected to high-temperatures (e.g. barbecuing). Under certain conditions, sodium nitrite and nitrate react with amino acids to form cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. This reaction can be hindered by the addition of ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid, or alpha-tocopherol. It has also been linked to birth defects and childhood leukemia.

 

Sorbitol

A sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in some fruits. It’s about 60 percent as sweet as sugar and used to both sweeten and thicken. Found in Dried fruit, chewing gum, and reduced-sugar candy                                         
Possible side effects: Sorbitol is digested slower than sugars, which makes it a better choice for diabetics. But like other sugar alcohols, it can cause intestinal discomfort, gas, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.

 

Sucralose or Splenda

A zero-calorie artificial sweetener made by joining chlorine particles and sugar molecules. It’s 600 times sweeter than sugar and largely celebrated as the least damaging of the artificial sweeteners.Found in Sugar-free foods, pudding, beverages, some diet sodas, and Splenda          
What you need to know: is that at least 12000 animals died for the developer, Johnson and Johnson while the horrific experiments were not mandatory and that all animals of sucralose after being force fed extremely large amount, most sustained irreparable brain damaged. Though we are not likely to ingest such huge quantities, a life time of use in several different items per day can have avery negative impact.     

 

Sulfur Dioxide, Bisulfite and Sulfites

These food additives are used as preservatives.You’ll find it in dried fruit, shrimp, frozen potatoes, wine, and restaurant salad bar items
Possible side effects: asthma attacks and migraine headaches.

 

Yellow #5 (Tartrazine) and Yellow #6 (Sunset Yellow)

The second and third most common food colorings, respectively. Found in Cereal, pudding, bread mix, beverages like Kool aid and powdered lemonades aimed at children chips, cookies, and condiments .                                                    
Possible side effects:Several studies have linked both dyes to learning and concentration disorders in children, and there are piles of animal studies demonstrating potential risks such as kidney and intestinal tumors. One study found that mice fed high doses of sunset yellow had trouble righting themselves in water. The FDA does not view these as serious risks to humans.

 

Xylitol

A sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in strawberries, mushrooms, and other fruits and vegetables. It is most commonly extracted from the pulp of the birch tree. Found in Sugar-free candy, yogurt, and beverages  Sugarless Gum with Xylitol  

Possible side effects: Unlike real sugar, sugar alcohols don’t encourage cavity-causing bacteria. They do have a laxative effect, though, so heavy ingestion might cause intestinal discomfort or gas. It is deadly to your pets.
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