Hi friends! It might sound surprising, but aluminum used to be a pretty common ingredient in everyday foods, including the kind we give to our kids. As a dietitian and mom, I’ve been paying more attention to ingredient labels, and one of the things I’ve been consciously avoiding is aluminum in food.
Let me share a few foods that used to contain aluminum, but many brands have now removed it, or you can easily choose versions without it.
1. Baking Powder
If you love to bake like me, you’ve probably used baking powder. But did you know that many baking powders used to contain sodium aluminum sulfate?
It works as a leavening agent, but I personally didn’t love the idea of aluminum in my muffins, especially with little ones eating them too.
Now I stick with aluminum-free baking powder, it’s clearly labeled, and it works just as well. Brands like Rumford and Bob’s Red Mill are my go-to!
2. Processed Cheese
Growing up, processed cheese was everywhere, on burgers, sandwiches, in macaroni. But some brands used sodium aluminum phosphate to make it smooth and shelf-stable.
These days, many companies have shifted to aluminum-free formulations. If I buy processed cheese at all, I check the label and choose real cheese or clean-label slices when possible.
3. Pickles
Did you know that alum (an aluminum compound) used to be added to pickles to keep them crispy?
As much as I love a good crunch, alum isn’t something I want in my baby’s digestive system, or mine!
Today, most pickling recipes (and commercial pickles) use calcium chloride or skip this step altogether. I’ve even made my own refrigerator pickles and found they stay crisp just fine.
4. Donuts and Packaged Cakes
This one caught me off guard. Many commercial baked goods like donuts and snack cakes used to include aluminum-containing leaveners.
Even some donut mixes still have it, so I always check the label before grabbing anything boxed.
Homemade treats give me the peace of mind I need, and it’s one of the reasons I love baking at home (plus my house smells amazing!).
5. Powdered Drinks & Antacids
Older versions of drink mixes, instant puddings, and even antacids sometimes contained aluminum compounds.
Today, many of these have been reformulated, but it’s still worth reading labels—especially if you’re buying off-brand or bulk products.
Why Avoid Aluminum?
While the FDA still allows it in small amounts, high levels of aluminum exposure have been linked to neurological effects. I’m not here to scare anyone, but I believe in making informed choices, especially for our families.
As always, my philosophy is: real food, simple ingredients, and clean labels when possible.
Have questions about ingredients or label reading? Drop them in the comments- I’d love to help you navigate the grocery aisle with confidence.
-Amal