Overview
- Inserm-led analyses published in BMJ (cancer) and Nature Communications (type 2 diabetes) evaluated brand-level diets of about 108,700 adults followed from 2009 to 2023.
- Of 17 widely used preservatives assessed, 11 showed no association with overall cancer incidence, while 12 were linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Sodium nitrite (E250) intake was associated with roughly a one-third higher incidence of prostate cancer, and regular exposure to potassium sorbate (E202) correlated with about twice the frequency of type 2 diabetes.
- The cohort documented 4,226 cancers and 1,131 new diabetes cases, enabling additive-specific estimates for sorbates, sulfites, nitrites, acetates and related compounds.
- Researchers caution the findings are associative and may be affected by residual confounding, as consumer groups such as Foodwatch call for tighter rules and potential bans on some preservatives.