Common food preservatives show modest cancer risk signals in a large diet study

A Sorbonne-led study of 105,260 adults tracked detailed dietary records over about 7.5 years and found modest cancer risk signals for higher intake of several non-antioxidant preservatives (notably potassium sorbate, sulfites, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, acetates, and acetic acid), while total preservative intake showed no overall cancer link. Antioxidant preservatives (erythorbates) showed fewer signals. The results are observational and do not prove causation, but researchers say the findings warrant closer scrutiny and could inform potential regulatory review and a push toward less-processed foods.