New Study Finds More Additives in Plant-Based Foods, Here’s What Gets Left Out

A new study published in Food Additives & Contaminants found that plant-based products in a UK supermarket had twice as many food additives as animal-based products. The plant-based range used 199 additives compared to 100 in the animal-based range, with the widest gap in dairy, meat, and fish alternatives. However, researchers emphasize that the number of additives alone does not indicate a health risk, as the concentration and exposure levels were not assessed, and all additives used have passed UK food safety regulations.

The study only measures formulation and does not consider other variables associated with animal agriculture, such as antibiotic use or carcinogenic properties of processed or red meat. Plant-based diets are not solely based on alternatives, with staples like beans and vegetables carrying no additives. The authors call for further research across different retailers and countries before making broader conclusions.