Pediatrics

Increasing scientific evidence suggests potential adverse effects on children's health from synthetic chemicals used as food additives, both those deliberately added to food during processing (direct) and those used in materials that may contaminate food as part of packaging or manufacturing (indirect). Concern regarding food additives has increased in the past 2 decades in part because of studies that increasingly document endocrine disruption and other adverse health effects. In some cases, exposure to these chemicals is disproportionate among minority and low-income populations. This report focuses on those food additives with the strongest scientific evidence for concern. Further research is needed to study effects of exposure over various points in the life course, and toxicity testing must be advanced to be able to better identify health concerns prior to widespread population exposure. The accompanying policy statement describes approaches policy makers and pediatricians can take to prevent the disease and disability that are increasingly being identified in relation to chemicals used as food additives, among other uses.R01 DK100307/DK/NIDDK NIH HHS/United StatesR01 ES022972/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United StatesR56 ES027256/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United StatesT32 ES015459/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United StatesUG3 OD023305/OD/NIH HHS/United StatesU01 OH011299/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States2018-12-18T00:00:00Z30037972PMC62985986525vault:3194