The Let Me Scan That Ingredient Guide

Last reviewed October 18, 2026

In plain words: Food labels are full of names that sound scary. Most aren't. A few deserve a second look, and a handful are worth skipping. These guides tell you which is which, in plain words, with the evidence graded and every source listed.

Each guide answers the same questions: what the ingredient is and why it's used, what the science actually says, what food-safety agencies say, who should be careful, how common it is in US packaged foods (from USDA data), and easy swaps for families. We also look at related exposures outside food, like vaping, cosmetics or medicines, because sometimes that's where the bigger exposure is.

Browse by group

Food dyes and colors

Artificial dyes add color, nothing else. Good trials show dye mixes can make some children a bit more hyperactive. That's a real but small effect, not a poison. The US plans a voluntary phase-out by the end of 2027. Until then, scanning labels and picking dye-free versions is the simplest step.

Red 40 (Allura Red), Yellow 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow), Blue 1 (Brilliant Blue), Blue 2 (Indigo Carmine), Green 3 (Fast Green), Red 3 (Erythrosine), Titanium Dioxide (E171), Caramel Color

Sugars and sweeteners

Added sugar of any kind is worth cutting, and HFCS is no worse than table sugar. Zero-calorie sweeteners aren't poison, but they aren't a proven health upgrade either. Water, milk and unsweetened drinks are the simplest everyday choice.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), Aspartame, Sucralose (Splenda), Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K), Saccharin (Sweet'N Low), Stevia (Steviol Glycosides), Monk Fruit Extract, Erythritol, Sugar Alcohols (Sorbitol, Maltitol and More), Xylitol, Maltodextrin

Emulsifiers and thickeners

Emulsifiers and gums make foods smooth and keep them from separating. A few (carrageenan, CMC, polysorbate 80, mono- and diglycerides) have early warning signs from mouse studies, small human trials and large population studies. Others (lecithin, guar and xanthan gum) look fine for most people. None is a poison, and eating fewer ultra-processed foods cuts them all.

Carrageenan, Carboxymethylcellulose (Cellulose Gum), Polysorbate 80, Mono- and Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum

Preservatives and acids

Preservatives keep food safe and stop it from spoiling, which is a real benefit. A few have strong reasons to limit them: nitrites in processed meat, and propylparaben and BHA, based on animal studies and regulator action. Sulfites matter for some people with asthma. Most others, like sorbate, citric acid and natamycin, have no real evidence of harm.

Sodium Nitrite and Nitrate, Propylparaben, BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole), Sulfites, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Propionate, Phosphoric Acid and Phosphate Additives, BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene), TBHQ (tert-Butylhydroquinone), Propyl Gallate, Potassium Sorbate, Natamycin, Citric Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate

Oils and fats

The one fat with clear proof of harm is artificial trans fat from partially hydrogenated oil, and it's now banned in US food. Seed oils like soybean and canola aren't shown to cause inflammation. Coconut and palm oil raise LDL cholesterol more than liquid oils. For most families, the type of food (fried and packaged vs home-cooked) matters more than which oil is in it.

Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Trans Fat), Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO), Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Seed Oils (Soybean, Canola, Corn and More), MCT Oil, Interesterified Fats

Flavors, flour treatments and more

This section covers flour treatments, flavors and a few hot topics that aren't additives at all. Two flour treatments, potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide, are worth skipping because of animal data and bans elsewhere. MSG and natural flavors are far less scary than their reputations. And folic acid is a proven protector of babies: please don't avoid it.

Potassium Bromate (Bromated Flour), Azodicarbonamide (ADA), Sodium Aluminum Phosphate (SALP), Talc (Magnesium Silicate), Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors and Vanillin, MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), Shellac (Confectioner's Glaze), Glyphosate Residues, Lectins, Folic Acid

What health influencers get right and wrong

Fair, claim-by-claim checks of popular advice from Gary Brecka, Dr. Eric Berg, Dr. Tina Storage, Dr. Mindy Pelz, Dr. Steven Gundry.

All ingredients, A to Z

How we grade the evidence

Every guide shows two things.

1. Our verdict on the popular claim. We take what people commonly say about an ingredient, often word for word from a popular health voice, and check it:

2. Evidence strength. How solid the research is on the main question:

Kinds of studies, simply put: a randomized trial gives people the ingredient or a look-alike by chance and compares them, the best way to show cause. A population (observational) study follows large groups and finds links, which can be caused by other habits. Animal and lab studies are early clues, often at doses far above what people eat. Regulators like the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) weigh all of this to set legal limits.

Our rules: we only cite sources our research team checked in full (PubMed record, publisher page or official text). We correct claims fairly, whoever makes them. We don't sell supplements or "clean" product lines. Let Me Scan That is a free scanner.

Where our product numbers come from

Product counts come from our analysis of the USDA FoodData Central Branded Foods database (release April 30, 2026): about 440,000 US packaged foods with ingredient lists. Companies submit these labels, mostly from 2021 to 2023, so some products have since changed. We count a product when its ingredient list names the ingredient. That's approximate: some labels use other names, and some lists are incomplete.

This guide is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not replace advice from your doctor, pediatrician, allergist or registered dietitian. If you think you or your child reacted to a food, talk to a health professional. Research changes; we review these pages when new evidence or rules come out. Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].

Frequently asked questions

Is this site affiliated with any brand or supplement company?

No. Let Me Scan That is a free barcode scanner. We don't sell supplements or products, and no company paid for these guides.

How do you decide what's safe?

We look at the best available human studies first, then animal and lab studies, then what food-safety agencies like FDA and EFSA concluded. Each guide shows our verdict, the strength of the evidence and every source.

Can I scan a product to see these ingredients?

Yes. Scan a barcode at letmescanthat.com and the result card flags ingredients covered here, with links to these guides.