The preservatives Verella flags, and who decided

The 4 flags

• BHA Caution

  Contains BHA, a preservative that some health bodies have flagged for further review. Some people prefer to limit it.

  Verella looks for: Additive E320, or "BHA" or "butylated hydroxyanisole"

  Source: IARC Group 2B; US National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens, reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen

• Added nitrites and nitrates Caution

  Contains added nitrites or nitrates (common in processed meats), which guidance suggests limiting. Consider how often you choose products like this.

  Verella looks for: Additives E249, E250, E251 and E252, or the words sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrite or potassium nitrate

  Source: IARC (2015) classified processed meat as Group 1, carcinogenic to humans; World Cancer Research Fund recommends limiting processed meat

• Propylparaben Caps the verdict

  Contains propylparaben, a preservative the EU removed from its permitted food additives and that California is phasing out of food.

  Verella looks for: Additives E216 and E217, or "propylparaben" or "propyl paraben"

  Source: Removed from the EU list of permitted food additives (2006); California AB 418 (2023) phases it out of food sold in the state

• Brominated vegetable oil Caps the verdict

  Contains brominated vegetable oil, which the FDA no longer permits in food (2024). Most sodas have already replaced it.

  Verella looks for: Additive E443, or "brominated vegetable oil"

  Source: US FDA revoked the authorization of brominated vegetable oil in food (2024)

The nitrite flag is the one most people meet, because it sits on almost every cured and processed meat. It is a caution rather than a cap, which means the rest of the label still decides the verdict.

How a flag changes the verdict

A capping flag is the one case where nothing else on the label matters. A product can be high in protein, low in sugar and a perfect fit for your goal, and one line in the ingredient list still takes it to Best avoided. A caution is weaker: on its own it holds the verdict at Better occasionally at best, and two cautions together take it to the bottom.

How the engine puts a verdict together

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