Researchers looked at packaged foods from supermarkets in five Latin American countries to see how many contain food additives—the ingredients companies add to make food taste better, look nicer, or last longer on shelves. They found that additives are in more than 75% of packaged foods, with some products containing ten or more different additives. The study shows that food companies across Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador use similar additives like flavorings and citric acid, though some differences exist between countries. This research highlights how common these additives are in the foods people buy every day and suggests we need better ways to track whether they affect our health.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many food additives are in packaged foods sold in Latin American supermarkets and which additives are used most often
  • Who participated: Nearly 50,000 packaged food and drink products from supermarkets in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador collected between 2017 and 2019
  • Key finding: More than 3 out of 4 packaged foods contain at least one food additive, and about 2 out of 3 products have two or more additives. Some products had as many as ten or more different additives mixed together.
  • What it means for you: If you buy packaged foods, you’re likely consuming multiple food additives regularly. While some additives are considered safe, the long-term effects of consuming many different additives together aren’t fully understood. Choosing fresh, unpackaged foods when possible may reduce your additive intake.

The Research Details

Scientists collected information about packaged foods and drinks from supermarkets in five Latin American countries over a three-year period. They looked at the ingredient lists on packages and searched for food additives—substances added by manufacturers for specific purposes like preserving food, adding color, or improving taste. They organized the additives into categories based on what they do (like preservatives, colorings, or sweeteners) and looked for patterns in how different countries use them.

The researchers examined nearly 50,000 different products total: about 9,600 from Brazil, 15,800 from Mexico, 13,900 from Chile, 8,300 from Colombia, and 2,100 from Ecuador. This large number of products gives them a good picture of what’s actually available in stores across the region.

This approach is important because it shows what people are actually exposed to when they shop for food. Rather than studying individual additives in a lab, the researchers looked at real products people buy, which gives a more accurate picture of how many additives the average person consumes. Understanding the actual food supply helps scientists and health officials know what to study next and whether regulations need to change.

The study is reliable because it examined a very large number of products (nearly 50,000) from multiple countries, making the results representative of what’s actually sold in supermarkets. The researchers used a standardized international list of food additives (the Codex Alimentarius) to identify them consistently. However, the study only looked at packaged foods from supermarkets, so it doesn’t include foods from smaller stores, markets, or restaurants. The data was collected over several years, so some information may be slightly outdated.

What the Results Show

Food additives are extremely common in packaged foods across Latin America. The researchers found that between 76% and 84% of all packaged products contained at least one food additive, depending on the country. Ecuador had the highest percentage at 84%, while Colombia had the lowest at 76%—but even that lowest number means three out of four products contain additives.

Most products contained multiple additives rather than just one. About 64% of products had two or more additives mixed together, and nearly 10% of products contained ten or more different additives. This means that people eating packaged foods are exposed to many additives at once, not just one or two.

Certain types of foods had the most additives. Candy and sweets, dairy products like yogurt and cheese, baked goods like bread and pastries, and meat products all had additives in more than 90% of products. These are foods that many people, especially children, eat regularly.

The most common additives used across all countries were flavorings (to make food taste better), citric acid (a preservative and flavor enhancer), phosphates (used in dairy and meat products), and lecithin (an emulsifier that helps mix ingredients). These four types of additives appeared in products from all five countries, suggesting they’re standard ingredients in the food industry across the region.

While the most common additives were similar across countries, some differences appeared in how often specific additives were used. Low-calorie sweeteners (artificial sweeteners) and food colorings showed the biggest differences between countries. This suggests that different countries have different rules about which additives are allowed, or that companies adjust their products based on what consumers in each country prefer. For example, some countries may allow more colorings in foods, while others restrict them.

This is one of the first studies to look at food additives across multiple Latin American countries in a systematic way. Previous research has shown that eating lots of ultra-processed foods (packaged foods with many ingredients) is linked to health problems like obesity and heart disease. Scientists have suspected that food additives might be part of the reason, but there hasn’t been much research on how many additives people are actually exposed to. This study fills that gap by showing just how widespread additives are in the food supply.

The study only looked at packaged foods from supermarkets, so it doesn’t include fresh foods, foods from smaller stores or markets, or restaurant food. The data was collected between 2017 and 2019, so some products and additives may have changed since then. The study also didn’t measure how much of each additive people actually consume—it just counted whether additives were present. Finally, the study doesn’t prove that additives cause health problems; it just shows how common they are.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, consider reducing your consumption of packaged foods when possible and choosing fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed grains instead. If you do buy packaged foods, check the ingredient list and choose products with fewer additives. This is especially important for children, who eat more packaged foods and may be more sensitive to additives. However, this study doesn’t prove additives are harmful—it just shows they’re very common, so more research is needed to understand their long-term effects.

Everyone who eats packaged foods should be aware of this research, but it’s especially important for parents buying food for children, people with food sensitivities or allergies, and anyone concerned about their long-term health. People in Latin America may want to pay special attention since this research directly applies to their food supply. If you have specific health concerns about food additives, talk to your doctor or a nutritionist.

If you start eating fewer packaged foods and more fresh foods, you might notice improvements in energy levels or digestion within a few weeks. However, major health benefits like weight loss or improved blood pressure typically take several months of consistent changes to become noticeable.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the number of additives in packaged foods you eat each day by checking ingredient lists. Set a goal to reduce your average daily additive count by 25% over the next month by choosing products with fewer additives or replacing packaged foods with fresh alternatives.
  • When shopping, use the app to scan product barcodes and see how many additives each product contains. Create a shopping list that prioritizes products with fewer than three additives, and challenge yourself to buy at least three fresh, additive-free foods each week.
  • Weekly, log the packaged foods you consumed and count total additives. Track how you feel (energy, digestion, mood) and look for patterns between weeks when you consumed more additives versus fewer. Over time, this helps you understand how additives might affect your personal health.

This study describes how common food additives are in packaged foods but does not prove that additives cause health problems. Food additives are regulated by government agencies and are generally considered safe in the amounts used. However, the long-term health effects of consuming many different additives together are not fully understood. If you have concerns about food additives or specific health conditions, consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian before making major changes to your diet. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.