Two French studies, published on January 7 in the British Medical Journal and in Nature Communications, have found that common food preservatives used to extend shelf life may be linked to higher risks of several cancers and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers tracked diet and health data from more than 170,000 adults, identifying specific additives associated with increased disease risk. Experts stress the findings are preliminary, but suggest greater emphasis on fresh, minimally processed foods.
With this news in mind, click through the following gallery to discover which foods to avoid—and how to make safer, healthier choices on your next trip to the grocery store.