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Original poster

To think emulsifiers should be banned or at least reduced

65 replies

MumofCrohnie · 02/04/2022 23:52

My daughter became seriously ill aged 10 with cramps, diarrhea, weight loss. Within a month or two she could barely walk 100 metres without getting a stitch, was breathless, routinely ran high temperatures and began vomiting randomly. She would wake at night crying in pain from her legs aching or her back hurting. She stopped growing and her skin went grey.

After 2 GP trips, 2 A and E visits within a month, and an emergency gastro appointment she was finally diagnosed with severe Crohn's disease. This disease was once virtually unknown in children but since the 1970s has grown enormously in children. It is now not particularly rare in children and increasingly common in adolescents and young adults. It is incurable and my daughter is now on 4 separate medications daily, quite probably for life. She has a 70 percent chance of in the future needing operations to remove sections of intestine, risks strictures, blockages, and fistulas in her intestines. She will probably go through early menopause.

There is increasing evidence that the Western diet contributes to the development of Crohn's in genetically susceptible people (her great grandma developed Crohn's in her 70s, back in the 1980s). Specifically, it seems that emulsifiers, carageenans, and maltodextrins may be a significant factor in developing Crohn's. In animal models there is pretty good evidence for emulsifiers. Emulsifiers bind fat and liquid and are used in bread, ice cream, sauces, baked goods etc almost ubiquitously in the UK. They are considered "safe", despite animal evidence showing they probably aren't. Since emulsifiers were added to prepared foods, Crohn's levels have increased hugely. This is a serious disease and it ruins lives.

AIBU to say that British food companies should be more wary of emulsifiers and label them in their food, provide emulsifier free alternatives and label items emulsifier free for families with an IBD history? Just like they make gluten free, dairy free and vegan foods?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
MumofCrohnie · 22/02/2025 22:17

Resurrecting this thread to say that a new study has now confirmed that removing emulsifiers can make a significant difference to people with Crohn's disease. Hopefully this will lead to better food labelling and maybe some changes to food additive policies in the UK, as I wanted in this thread!

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/cutting-emulsifiers-from-diet-is-potential-new-treatment-for-crohns-disease?fbclid=IwY2xjawInKrBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYozpU-gXG95JRMn3BzS8b9znFdpJcFW1VjUVcaeWBUYyNJdgDYPhD6H2Q_aem_crH2nkspSzbaogG3x0qHRA#:~:text=The%20trial%2C%20known%20as%20the,out%20emulsifiers%20from%20their%20diet

OP posts:
Mayblossominapril · 04/04/2022 00:13

There’s definitely a family link to IBD but I try to view it positively as it’s just a slightly easier thing to deal with it than other things that can run through families.
I thought I’d escaped IBD but after a stressful few years and eating a dairy free diet so I could bf two children with CMPA (also runs in the family) I’ve ended up with ulcerative colitis, the bloody oat milk definitely made it worse. I think the alternative foods will be the next hydrogenated scandal.
I used the products because I needed the calories desperately and it mimicked what I was used to eating. If I had stuck with dairy my eldest would have had permanent stomach ache and my second would have died. Maybe I should have fed them the prescription formula but it’s foul so I’ve taken the hit.
My sibling has had extremely severe crohns since childhood and is stable on the new drugs. They avoid operations as they almost killed them. But they manage it fairly well to minimise pain etc.

PinkPlantCase · 04/04/2022 00:05

Hi OP, thankyou for posting this. I didn’t know this about emulsifiers. Though I do think we are getting there.

For example as PP have said there is now a lot guidance in relation to processes and ultra processed foods. I think we will see food labelling improve massively in relation to this over the next few years. I know other countries already do highlight UHP foods on packaging.

I use the rule of thumb that if I didn’t know what an ingredient is on the ingredients list we don’t buy it. We have a bread maker for bread, generally cook from scratch and make our own snacks as much as possible.

What I have found really frustrating though is the food that DS is fed at nursery. It is a very good well regarded nursery but the food is often more processed that what we would ever eat at home. I do worry about it’s impact on little bodies.

HikingforScenery · 03/04/2022 23:33

[quote MumofCrohnie]Soontobe60
Carageenans are not at all shown to be safe with plenty of scientific evidence. Quite the reverse. Loads of references in this paper
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5410598/[/quote]
Ive been avoiding carageenan for a while now. I didn’t realise it’s an emulsifier.

Fairislefandango · 03/04/2022 11:04

all low fat, supposedly healthy foods are not as they are full of additives

Wow, you meanall these items(vegetable and fruits) are full of nasty additives? gosh, who knew.

As I'm sure you're aware, it was pretty obvious the poster was talking about foods which are marketed as low fat - i.e. foods which would usually be high in fat, but which have had the fat reduced and have therefore needed to be made more palatable (usually by adding sugar, sweeteners, thickeners etc).

So you're either genuinely claiming you think they were saying vegetables were unhealthy because they are low fat, or you're just sarcastically picking on the poster for not spelling out something they thought would be perfectly obvious to anyone with half a brain.

lljkk · 03/04/2022 10:07

all low fat, supposedly healthy foods are not as they are full of additives

Wow, you mean all these items (vegetable and fruits) are full of nasty additives? gosh, who knew.

I am sure I read that lecithins were very bad for you. Like a lot of things you read on the Internet. Can be hard to know what to believe...

Tigofigo · 03/04/2022 10:07

There's been an awful lot of media coverage recently around the impact of ultra high processed foods and how they cause all kinds of disease and health issues.

By avoiding UHP food you would also avoid these thickeners and emulsifiers.

Really we should all be striving to eat a low processed diet.

QueenLagertha · 03/04/2022 10:06

@MumofCrohnie you probably wouldn't feel so guilty if your daughter developed RA, MS, cancer for example.

As others have said people/children did have bowel diseases years ago, they just didn't survive.
I remember watching The Last Kingdom on Netflix. King Alfred had a long history of bowel issues, was always noted as being frail and weak since childhood. I googled it and many historians thought he had Crohn's disease. He did die of complications associated with it. This was in the ninth century so I doubt he ate emulsifiers and additives.

As Mothers we will always feel guilty. I understand somewhat as I understandably have a fear of my own children developing IBD. However you can't blame yourself for this. it's such a complex disease we have no way of knowing what triggers it and likely it is various factors plus bad luck.

Singlebutmarried · 03/04/2022 10:03

In my experience it’s getting the correct meds regime that makes the most difference in wellbeing.

There’s no family history of crohns in my family and as far as I’m aware the genetic link still isn’t proven (I’m under the clinic currently running the research trials).

As with PP I was brought up on home cooked/made from scratch meals. Back in the day crohns was being linked to pasteurised milk. So I think emulsifiers are the next in a long line of possible causes.

It’s worth noting that crohns is also prevalent in young adults in poorer countries where processed foods are not the standard fayre.

Goawayangryman · 03/04/2022 09:51

I don't know anything at all about the science here. By it does sound like you are suffering enormous guilt for something that is categorically not your fault. Please be kinder to yourself and also you can't know what triggered your daughter's Crohn's with any certainty. It could be wholly unrelated to her diet in her case.

Fairislefandango · 03/04/2022 09:48

From some of these very reputably-sourced links, it appears that emulsifiers don't just trigger Crohns in people who are already predisposed to get it, it's also looking as if they contribute to a variety of problems in the population at large - inflammation, leaky gut, liver dysfunction and cardio problems etc.

Original poster
MumofCrohnie · 03/04/2022 09:46

@QueenLagertha
DD was breastfed for 2.5 years!
Unfortunately didn't prevent the expression of the genes, though I am glad I did it as it's one less thing to feel bad about.

OP posts:
Original poster
MumofCrohnie · 03/04/2022 09:35

@soontobe60

The predict study is investigating. Prof Charlie Lees from Edinburgh. Very recent tweet attached; study ongoing.

I probably haven't acknowledged in my posts that it's complex. It's not as straightforward as that if you eat emulsifiers you are more likely to get Crohn's. It is a complex disease and you have to be genetically susceptible in the first place. Most people won't get IBD from what they eat.

I would like people to have a greater awareness though, especially if they have family members with IBD, that avoiding these additives might be a good idea, and I would love if some manufacturers would consider harmful emulsifier free lines. Obviously not avoiding egg, honey and mustard which are natural emulsifiers, and probably not soy lecithins either.

We tend to go low residue as well - to the previous poster with Crohn's - we make our own cakes and cookies or buy the artisan bread which is more often emulsifier free. We have found a few brands such as Bonne maman Madeleine cakes made without, and haagen das vanilla ice cream.

To think emulsifiers should be banned or at least reduced
OP posts:
DogInATent · 03/04/2022 09:29

People have historically not got Crohn's in childhood, Heretoday. As I said, my daughter's great grandma obviously had the genes, but didn't get ill until her 70s. So I don't think it's that everyone used to die.

I have a collection of autoimmune conditions, including coeliac disease. Most of these autoimmune conditions have only been understood relatively recently. Children that presented with them were categorized as "failure to thrive" and frequently died. It is undoubtedly true that we're seeing more children accurately diagnosed and surviving with these conditions now, because they are better understood.

If you want to avoid functional/technical ingredients such as emulsifiers you're going to have to avoid processed foods engineered to survive the retail logistics chain, buy fresher shorter-shelf-life products, or avoid/reduce processed foods as a whole. These ingredients are included for a reason, and if they're excluded something else is going to have to provide the function.

pastabest · 03/04/2022 09:16

A member of my household has Crohns, ulcerative colitis and coeliac disease ( and a number of other AI conditions). Fortunately the UC and Crohns are well managed as long as the coeliac diet is maintained.

They were brought up on a home cooked meat and two veg diet. A SAHM who cooked everything from scratch including bread.

Looking back over their family history it's obvious that AI conditions have caused issues going back generations but was mostly referred to as 'they were badly with their guts' or 'failing to thrive' in children

I think as a society we need to move away as much as we can from processed foods and back to more natural ways of eating regardless. Its better for everyone.

And OP it's natural to try and find a cause/ blame for things but this isn't your fault. It's bad luck.

ScrollingLeaves · 03/04/2022 09:09

“ClumpingBambooIsALie

I was responding to your most recent mention of the question of bans, which was this: Rephrasing: not a ban then, only a ban on the dangerous emulsifiers, carageenans, gums? which is still calling for a ban. Your family's needs are not more important than other people's. Lots of people have to read labels.“

Your family’s needs are not more important than other people’s. Lots of people have to read labels

From this information it seems likely that people who do not yet realise the cause may also be affected by these emulsifiers.

Labelling does not at present seem to highlight these ingredients in bold as allergens. Perhaps that would be a start.

ScrollingLeaves · 03/04/2022 09:02

@Soontobe60 Thank you for drawing everyone’s attention to the dangers of emulsifiers. I had not realised this.

I am so sorry your DC has been badly affected.

LndnGrl · 03/04/2022 08:57

@MumofCrohnie

My daughter became seriously ill aged 10 with cramps, diarrhea, weight loss. Within a month or two she could barely walk 100 metres without getting a stitch, was breathless, routinely ran high temperatures and began vomiting randomly. She would wake at night crying in pain from her legs aching or her back hurting. She stopped growing and her skin went grey.

After 2 GP trips, 2 A and E visits within a month, and an emergency gastro appointment she was finally diagnosed with severe Crohn's disease. This disease was once virtually unknown in children but since the 1970s has grown enormously in children. It is now not particularly rare in children and increasingly common in adolescents and young adults. It is incurable and my daughter is now on 4 separate medications daily, quite probably for life. She has a 70 percent chance of in the future needing operations to remove sections of intestine, risks strictures, blockages, and fistulas in her intestines. She will probably go through early menopause.

There is increasing evidence that the Western diet contributes to the development of Crohn's in genetically susceptible people (her great grandma developed Crohn's in her 70s, back in the 1980s). Specifically, it seems that emulsifiers, carageenans, and maltodextrins may be a significant factor in developing Crohn's. In animal models there is pretty good evidence for emulsifiers. Emulsifiers bind fat and liquid and are used in bread, ice cream, sauces, baked goods etc almost ubiquitously in the UK. They are considered "safe", despite animal evidence showing they probably aren't. Since emulsifiers were added to prepared foods, Crohn's levels have increased hugely. This is a serious disease and it ruins lives.

AIBU to say that British food companies should be more wary of emulsifiers and label them in their food, provide emulsifier free alternatives and label items emulsifier free for families with an IBD history? Just like they make gluten free, dairy free and vegan foods?

I think you run the risk of developing many illnesses from eating processed food.

I think the trick is to try to prepare your own food, and only consume processed in a real, real pinch.

All these additives etc will only get worse as the manufacturers try to cut costs further.

QueenLagertha · 03/04/2022 08:53

Hi OP. Sorry to hear about your daughters diagnosis. I have Crohns too. Have had it since my early 20s and have been lucky to have lengthy periods of remission. I manage it now with self administered injections every 12 weeks and a more whole food, plant based diet.

I can't believe the difference diet has made. I wish someone had told me before I had to work it out for myself. I was even told by medical professionals that diet didn't matter 🤦🏼‍♀️ I know a high fibre diet isn't appropriate for people who have very active disease/strictures but I was told low fibre diet best for Crohns and not advised how to reintroduce fibre and the importance of it.

My current gastro is definitely more knowledgeable. Advised me strongly to breastfeed my children if I could. This is a protective factor for IBD.

I had a son 4 years ago and I try my best for him as I know he is genetically predisposed to IBD. So breastfed, making his food from scratch as much as I can, lots of fruit and veg. I bought a breadmaker so we only have homemade bread. I do allow him to have choc and treats but try to limit these.

I find Instagram accounts so helpful. theguthealthdoctor and theguthealthmd -will bulsiewicz who is a GI. He wrote fiber fuelled. I would definitely recommend that you read his book. It advocates a whole food plant based diet. I also follow other people who have IBD and who have great success with WFPB diet too.

Please don't beat yourself up about your daughters diagnosis. She is lucky to have you as her advocate now.

Soontobe60 · 03/04/2022 08:39

@MumofCrohnie

Actually you are right, I would like a ban on any specific emulsifiers and gums that might be proven to trigger IBD in susceptible individuals. Safe ones could still be used (like natural emulsifiers, soya lecithins)

The reason is that once triggered, you have Crohn's or ulcerative colitis for life. Children as young as toddlers are becoming lifelong medical patients. It's not reversible.

Families with coeliac in are at higher risk (we have 5 coeliacs in this generation; dd got the short straw and got Crohn's) as both are autoimmune bowel diseases so I am surprised that you think the way you do.

We were desperately hoping dd was coeliac. A life of reading packages or using 'free from' and she'd be fine. With Crohn's we have a lifetime of reading packages to try to find non highlighted additives that are in 55 percent of UK foods, and chances are she will still have multiple hospitalisations and operations and quite possibly a stoma.

If the specific emulsifiers, carageenans and gums shown to be linked were banned, my child and hundreds of others would quite possibly not now be lifelong medical patients.

www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-crohns-disease/causes

The Crohns - Colitis foundation state that diet does not cause either disease, I’m assuming that a foundation set up specifically to research these diseases would be experts on the causes?

HikingforScenery · 03/04/2022 08:37

Op, thanks very much for this post. I knew nothing about emulsifiers but will look into them now. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you know, its going to take a while to omit these in food manufacturing. I’d settle for labelling for now tbh.

It’s amazing the amount of ingredients that go into everyday things like bread. The list of ingredients can be so long. I try to them.

Soontobe60 · 03/04/2022 08:34

@MumofCrohnie

Specifically - you don't know you have Crohn's until you do. So reading packets comes too late if you don't know about links to food additives that are pretty ubiquitous in our Western diet. By the time you find out, it's too late.
You’re making some hefty assumptions here. It’s not the foods that cause the diseases. They are autoimmune diseases that are always there - when you eat certain foods you will have a reaction. Most people don’t have an autoimmune disease. The people I know who do, or who have food allergies, are very good at checking ingredients to eliminate allergens.
Soontobe60 · 03/04/2022 08:28

@DogandMog

Carrageenan is evil, drinking flavoured soya milks when I was vegan gave me bad stomach pains and an ache in my throat like I’d got a large vitamin tablet stuck sideways in my foodpipe. I’ve long since gone to eating a real food animal based diet, including fruit and veg, as eating highly processed, imported, over packaged factory food is worse all round.

Just remembered about a year ago I bought some gluten free tiger bread and that gave me the same cramps that carrageenan does. Other GF breads I’m fine with, but seldom eat... I’d much rather have a simple jacket potato than a sandwich.

You do know that it’s a plant derived product don’t you?
Singlebutmarried · 03/04/2022 08:20

Crohn’s sufferer here (20+ years experience).

It’s a very individual disease. For me processed food is kinder to my innards. Fresh healthy food has me doubled over. So a ban on emulsifiers would leave me with only dust to eat.

There is no one size fits all diet for crohns, it’s why it’s so difficult to diagnose and treat.

I feel for your DD as it really is a horrid disease to have, but a blanket ban on foodstuffs because her digestive tract can’t handle them isn’t the answer. As I’ve got older the foods I can tolerate have changed. Some things I’ve been able to reintroduce for a while then exclude again.

It’s a minefield.

Fairislefandango · 03/04/2022 08:11

Interesting info, OP. I thought I was pretty well up on food issues, but I'd never heard that emulsifiers could be a problem. I have ongoing, unidentified (though fairly mild) stomach problems. Most of my possible trigger foods probably do commonly contain emulsifiers, so that’s worth monitoring.