Health Risks of Food Additives in Modern Diets and Implications for Food Safety

Abstract

Food additives are widely used in modern food systems to enhance quality, stability, and sensory characteristics, but their increasing presence in processed foods raises concerns regarding potential health risks. This study evaluates the health implications of food additives by synthesizing recent evidence on additive types, dietary exposure patterns, toxicological mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks. A qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach was applied to analyze peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2025. The findings indicate that additives are commonly consumed in combination through processed foods, leading to cumulative exposure. Toxicological effects are associated with mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic disruption, which may contribute to long-term health outcomes. The study also highlights limitations in current risk assessment approaches, particularly in addressing combined and long-term exposure. These findings emphasize the need for more integrative frameworks to improve food safety evaluation and regulatory strategies.