You could be onto something with the extra stuff in food here. I'm pretty intolerant to some of those things, like anything that makes food look yellow(er) or adds a lemon flavour that isn't real lemon. Yep, I do mix my curries - fortunately, I have a trusted store here that sells every single ingredient - the pre-mixed ones tend to have stuff in them that makes them more yellow. My own never get THAT colourful. ;)

And whatever makes food remain fresh longer than it naturally should, is evil, too.