Azodicarbonamide (ADA)
Like other food additives on this list, azodicarbonamide is a whitening agent and dough conditioner found in cereal flours. The concern here is that ADA breaks down into semicarbazide and urethane—both carcinogenic—during the breadmaking process. The FDA says these substances are not present in high enough concentrations to be dangerous, but ADA is banned from food and other uses in the EU. At least food containing ADA will list “azodicarbonamide” in its ingredients, so you know what to look out for!