I recently very bad glucose spike after eating some foods. To investigate what is causing glucose spike, I went to fasting and start taking one type of food everyday using FreeStyle Libre CGM.

After the end of trial, I found that there are following items which triggered high glucose.

Bread, Chips and Khakra.

Then, we went in identifying what could be causing these spikes. Few chemicals came on top: Calcium Propionate, Acrylamide and Maltodextrin.

Maltodextrine is not directly harmful but when combined with preservatives, it can be very detrimental as it has high glycemic index.

I created the list of chemicals, which category they fall, common sources and health concerns.

Here’s an updated table highlighting some brands and products associated with these chemicals:

Chemical Name	Category	Common Sources	Health Concerns	Key Notes
Acesulfame K	Sweetener	Diet drinks, sugar-free products	Potential metabolic disruption	Limited long-term studies, often used with other artificial sweeteners
Arsenic	Metal	Some rice products, contaminated water	Multiple cancers, cardiovascular disease, skin lesions	Accumulates in body over time
Aspartame	Sweetener	Diet sodas, sugar-free products	Neurological concerns, headaches, controversial studies	FDA approved but debates continue
Benzene	Industrial/Tobacco	Some soft drinks, air pollution	Leukemia, blood disorders, bone marrow damage	Volatile organic compound
BHA/BHT	Preservative	Cereals, packaged snacks, oils	Possible carcinogen, endocrine disruption, liver effects	Often used together
Cadmium	Metal	Some fertilizers, industrial pollution	Kidney damage, bone weakening, cancer risk	Long half-life in body
Calcium Propionate	Preservative	Bread products, baked goods	Behavioral changes, migraines, inflammation	Common bread preservative
Formaldehyde	Industrial	Building materials, some cosmetics	Cancer, respiratory issues, eye irritation	Forms during combustion
High Fructose Corn Syrup	Sweetener	Sodas, processed foods, condiments	Obesity links, metabolic syndrome, diabetes risk	Different metabolism than sugar
Maltodextrin	Carbohydrate	Processed foods, sports drinks	Blood sugar spikes, gut bacteria changes, weight gain	High glycemic index
MSG	Flavor Enhancer	Asian foods, processed snacks, seasonings	Headaches, sensitivity reactions, flushing	Controversial evidence
Nitrites/Nitrates	Preservative	Processed meats, cured meats	Cancer risk, methemoglobinemia, nitrosamine formation	Forms compounds during cooking
Potassium Bromate	Flour Additive	Bread products, baked goods, pizza dough	Possible carcinogen, kidney damage, nervous system effects	Banned in many countries
Red 40/Yellow 5/6	Food Dyes	Candy, drinks, snack foods	Behavioral issues, allergic reactions, cancer debates	Most common artificial colors
Sulfites	Preservative	Wine, dried fruits, processed potatoes	Asthma attacks, allergic reactions, respiratory issues	Must be labeled
TBHQ	Preservative	Frozen foods, crackers, microwave meals	Liver enlargement, vision problems, neurological effects	Used for shelf stability
Acrylamide	Industrial/Food	Fried foods, baked goods, coffee	Cancer risk, nerve damage	Forms in high-temperature cooking
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)	Industrial/Food	Grilled meats, charred food	Cancer, DNA mutations	Formed when meat is cooked at high temperatures
Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs)	Industrial/Food	Grilled, fried, or barbecued meat	Cancer, cellular damage	Increases with higher cooking temperatures and longer durations
Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs/PFAS)	Industrial	Non-stick cookware, fast food packaging	Cancer, immune system effects	Persistent in the environment and body
Phthalates	Industrial	Plastic containers, personal care products	Hormone disruption, cancer	Found in many everyday consumer products
Bisphenol A (BPA)	Industrial	Canned foods, plastic bottles	Endocrine disruption, possible cancer link	BPA-free alternatives exist but may have similar risks
Dioxins	Industrial	Contaminated dairy, meat, fish	Cancer, reproductive issues, immune suppression	Persistent organic pollutant, bioaccumulates in fat
Glyphosate	Herbicide	Herbicide-treated crops, processed foods	Cancer, liver/kidney toxicity	Controversial, classified as “probably carcinogenic” by WHO

Note: The presence of these chemicals in products can vary based on regional regulations, manufacturing processes, and ongoing reformulations by companies. Consumers are advised to read ingredient labels and stay informed about product formulations to make informed choices.

It’s great to know these chemicals but it’s also important to know which brands can have these to have general awareness of the risk. Please note that media reports and independent studies can vary over time and by region, and many of these products are still sold under current regulatory approvals. Always check the most recent testing and regulatory updates.

Chemical Name	Flagged Food Brands/Products	Source / Notes
Acesulfame K	Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi	Flagged in broader discussions on artificial sweeteners; controversies center on potential metabolic effects rather than routine “exceeding limits.”
Arsenic	Uncle Ben’s Rice; Gerber Rice Cereal (infant rice products)	Consumer watchdog studies and news reports have highlighted elevated arsenic levels in certain rice-based products and infant cereals.
Aspartame	Diet Coke; Pepsi One	Diet beverages using aspartame have been repeatedly scrutinized in news reports and public debates, though regulatory agencies maintain they fall within safe limits.
Benzene	Coca‑Cola; Dr Pepper	Past news investigations found benzene formation in some soft drinks—often linked to interactions between ingredients (like vitamin C) and storage conditions.
BHA/BHT	Post Fruity Pebbles; General Mills’ Trix	Several reports and expert commentaries (including in outlets like the NY Post) have flagged cereals and snacks for synthetic preservatives linked to endocrine and carcinogenic concerns. (citenypost.com)
Cadmium	Certain rice brands (e.g., Uncle Ben’s, Mahatma Rice)	News articles and independent tests have raised concerns about cadmium levels in rice, which can vary with sourcing and agricultural practices.
Calcium Propionate	Mainstream bread brands such as Wonder Bread (and similar products)	Some news features and consumer reports have discussed preservatives in breads—even though levels typically fall within regulatory limits, the cumulative exposure is a concern.
High Fructose Corn Syrup	Coca‑Cola; Pepsi; various processed snack brands	Regularly scrutinized in the media for its metabolic and obesity links, with particular attention on soft drinks and highly processed foods.
MSG	Campbell’s Soups; Doritos	Although MSG remains FDA‑approved, discussions in the media have spotlighted products using MSG amid consumer sensitivity debates.
Nitrites/Nitrates	Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs; Hormel Bacon	Processed meats have been frequently flagged in news reports for high preservative levels, with concerns about potential carcinogenic nitrosamine formation.
Potassium Bromate	Pepperidge Farm Bread; Nature’s Own Bread	Despite being banned in many countries, potassium bromate has been reported in some U.S. bread products at concerning levels in certain tests.
Red 40/Yellow 5/6	Kellogg’s Froot Loops; various candy brands	Multiple media reports have flagged products for artificial dyes, with the NY Post highlighting links between certain dyes and health concerns. (citenypost.com)
TBHQ	Pop‑Tarts; Orville Redenbacher’s Microwave Popcorn	News reports have occasionally highlighted TBHQ in processed snack products, noting potential risks when exposure is chronic.
Acrylamide	McDonald’s French Fries; Lay’s Potato Chips	Numerous investigations (including academic studies and media reports) have focused on acrylamide formation in fried or high‑temperature processed foods.
Perfluorinated Compounds (PFAS/PFCs)	Fast‑food packaging from chains like McDonald’s, KFC, and Subway	Independent studies and news reports have raised concerns about PFAS in food packaging materials, which can transfer to food over time.
Bisphenol A (BPA)	Campbell’s Soup; Del Monte Canned Foods	Canned food products have been under scrutiny for BPA leaching from can linings, as reported by various news outlets and consumer groups.
Glyphosate	General Mills Cheerios; Quaker Oats; Annie’s Homegrown (oat‑based products)	Investigative reports and independent tests have sometimes found glyphosate residues in oat‑based cereals and related products, sparking public debate.

Important Considerations:

• Regulatory Context: Many of these ingredients are approved for use by regulatory agencies worldwide. News reports often highlight instances where testing (sometimes under extreme conditions) revealed levels that sparked concern—even if routine production remains within legal limits.
• Variability: Levels can vary by production batch, regional sourcing, and testing methodology.
• Consumer Advice: For those concerned, checking product labels, reviewing independent test results, and seeking products with natural or minimal additives can help reduce exposure.

Sources: