Food Additive Villains

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): When consumed in large quantities, this flavor enhancer reportedly causes burning sensations, facial pressure, chest pain, headache, and, in rare cases, severe asthma symptoms.

Tartrazine (yellow dye No. 5): This and other food dyes can aggravate chronic hives.

Sulfites: Additives that are often used as antioxidants to preserve wine, dried fruit, shrimp, and potatoes. These additives have been implicated in cases of allergic food hypersensitivities, including potentially life-threatening bronchospasm (constriction of the airways) and asthma symptoms, especially in severe asthmatics who require long-term treatment with oral corticosteroids. Exposure to sulfites, when used in salad bars and in the guacamole served in some restaurants, can trigger asthma symptoms in susceptible asthmatics when they inhale the sulfite fumes from treated foods. These antioxidant additives are sometimes used to prevent discoloration and to keep greens looking perky.