Food preservatives linked to type 2 diabetes and cancer, studies warn

• Certain preservatives are often added to foods to make them last longer, but research about the possibly damaging effects is ongoing.
• One study found that preservative food additives are linked to a higher incidence of diabetes, and another found a similar link between certain preservative food additives and some cancers.
• People can take steps to minimize their consumption of food preservatives.

Do preservatives carry health risks? One study recently published in Nature Communications identified 12 preservatives that were linked to a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Another study from the same research team, looking at data from the same original cohort, found that higher intake of certain preservatives was associated with a greater incidence of certain cancer types and overall cancer. This study was published in The BMJ.

The results highlight potential dangers of certain food additives and the possible need for people to minimize these in their diets.