36 everyday foods are now linked to high blood pressure and heart disease
A study has identified a potential link between additives used in several common foods and heart disease and high cholesterol.
The paper, which was sourced from the European Society of Cardiology and published on 20 September 2026, and looked at what health impact certain additives can have on consumers.
A summary of the paper shared on Science Daily said that 'researchers identified eight widely used preservatives associated with hypertension', though it added that 'the observational study cannot prove they were directly responsible'.
The study was carried out by Dr. Mathilde Touvier and Anaïs Hasenböhler, who are both based at the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team at the Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and Université Paris Cité, France.
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PhD student Hasenböhler said: "Food preservatives are used in hundreds of thousands of industrially processed foods. Experimental studies suggest that some preservative food additives may be harmful to cardiovascular health, but we have not had enough evidence on the impact of these ingredients in humans.
"As far as we know, this is the first study of its kind to investigate the links between a wide range of preservatives and cardiovascular health."
What were the additives identified in the study?
Eight common additives specifically were linked in the study to an increased risk of high blood pressure.
The additives were potassium sorbate (E202), potassium metabisulphite (E224), sodium nitrite (E250), ascorbic acid (E300), sodium ascorbate (E301), sodium erythorbate (E316), citric acid (E330), and extracts of rosemary (E392).
These are all common additives which are found in a whole range of products.
How was the study carried out?
The study formed a part of the NutriNet-Santé project, which examines nutrition and health, including 112,395 volunteers who live all across France.
Volunteers would record what they ate and drank over a period of three days.
Dr. Touvier said: "This study has some limitations inherent to its observational design. However, the findings are based on highly detailed data, and we have taken account of other factors that can increase or lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Experimental research in the literature consistently suggested that preservatives may cause oxidative stress in the body or affect the way the pancreas works.
"These results suggest we need a re-evaluation of the risks and benefits of these food additives by the authorities in charge, such as the EFSA in Europe and the FDA in the USA, for better consumer protection. In the meantime, these findings support existing recommendations to favor non-processed and minimally processed foods, and avoid unnecessary additives. Doctors and other healthcare professionals play a key role in explaining these recommendations to the public."
What the additives used in?
Not every product of those listed here will contain these additives, but these are products where that is sometimes used. You should check the packaging to confirm for any individual product that you buy.
- Potassium sorbate (E202): Cheese, yoghurt, cakes and pastries, margarine, jams, sauces, dried fruit, fruit drinks and wine
- Potassium metabisulphite (E224): Wine, cider and beer; dried fruit; bottled lemon/lime juice; fruit juice; prawns; processed potato products; pickles and sauces
- Sodium nitrite (E250): Bacon, ham, sausages, salami, hot dogs and other cured or processed meats
- Ascorbic acid (E300): Bread and baked goods, breakfast cereals, fruit drinks, soft drinks, processed meat, frozen fruit and vegetables
- Sodium ascorbate (E301): Ham, bacon, sausages and other processed meats; occasionally bread, drinks and canned foods
- Sodium erythorbate (E316): Primarily processed and cured meats, including sausages, ham, bacon, hot dogs and deli meats
- Citric acid (E330): Fizzy drinks, sweets, jams, desserts, sauces, tinned fruit and vegetables, flavoured dairy products and ready meals
- Rosemary extracts (E392): Cooking oils, margarine, meat products, sauces, dressings, crisps and snacks, bakery products and some ready meals
Topics: Health, Food And Drink, News
Kit Roberts