Common food preservatives linked to higher blood pressure and heart risk, new French study finds
A French NutriNet-Santé study of over 112,000 adults found eight preservatives in foods linked to higher blood pressure and increased risks of heart attack and stroke over the next decade; both non-antioxidant preservatives (potassium sorbate, potassium metabisulfite, sodium nitrite) and natural antioxidant preservatives (ascorbic acid/vitamin C, sodium ascorbate, sodium erythorbate, citric acid, rosemary extracts) were associated with higher cardiovascular risk. The study shows associations, not causation, and reinforces concerns about ultraprocessed foods, suggesting a shift toward fresh or minimally processed options when possible.