Kelsey Ives
Kives01@wildcats.jwu.edu
Monday, Wednesday 1:45-3:40
Professor Harmon
English composition
What Are The Harmful Effects Of Prepackaged Food And The Chemicals In Them?
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Picture yourself in the middle isles of the grocery store, and your cart is
overflowing with prepackaged and processed food. You have no idea what is in the
prepackaged foods. Well research has shown that the prepackaged food products
have a multitude of chemicals that cause diseases, birth defects, and has ruined
America’s eating habits. These chemicals harm our health and way of life in a variety
of ways. People don’t realize or understand where, why and how prepackaged and
processed foods affect us. How can we switch to a healthier life style and diet?
In her article “What’s On Your Plate” Suzanne Havala Hobbs talks about the
chemicals in prepackaged foods. Hobbs states that Sodium nitrite is an artificial
coloring found in hot dogs, candy and soft drinks. According to Hobbs, Sodium
nitrite has been linked to an increase of some cancers and causes allergies. Hobbs
points out that another popular chemical is hydrogenated oil, which is a common
food additive; it is a health concern because it can cause clogging in our arteries. She
also states that the chemical Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer that
causes multiple common symptoms like headaches, nausea, and wheezing in some
people. All of these chemicals are popular in prepackaged and processed foods that
you will find in the aisles located in the middle of the most grocery stores (Hobbs).
In Steve Ettlinger’s Twinkie Deconstructed, he states that other chemicals
found in prepackaged and processed foods are Monoglycerides and diglycerides,
which are a combined into one chemical, found in many foods. They are found in
triscuits, peanut butter, and ice cream (179). Ettlinger also states that
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monoglycerides and diglycerides are combined to make milk emulsifiers (179).
Hobbs points out that the chemicals carmine, cochineal extract, and carminic acids
are extracted from beetles to produce food coloring in the colors red, pink, and
purple. Ettlinger introduces that sorbic acid is another chemical found in
prepackaged and processed cake products, like hostess cupcakes, zebra cakes,
hoho’s, and moon pies. He points out that sorbic acid helps control moisture and
prevents mold in prepackaged cake products (239). Suzanne Hobbs warns that
potassium bromate improves volume and fineness of bread, but potentially causes
cancer. She further relates that the chemical pronounced glis-er-in maintains water
content and is also found in most types of by-products of animal fat. These
chemicals described can cause multiple issues and are toxic to the human body
(Hobbs).
“The Toxic Waste Dump” by Phyllis B Canion mentions the diseases and
causes of these chemicals in prepackaged and processed foods. Canion says that in
today’s world food is not prepared or consumed how it was “one hundred years
ago when our ancestors processed the food by using salt, fermentation, and the sun
for drying.” According to her, processing food like they did years ago didn’t harm
a human’s digestive system. She writes that in today’s world chemicals wreak the
digestive system and affect our health on a daily basis. Canion says Chemicals that
are injected into prepackaged and processed foods give them a longer shelf life.
According to Canion, Problems that prepackaged and processed foods cause are
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“Cancer, immune system disorders, hormonal imbalances, neurological problems,
and obesity. She states that there are over six thousand food additives,
preservatives, emulsifiers, and chemicals used in prepackaged and processed
foods. Canion introduces that Pink slime is a chemical extracted from a beavers anal
glands to make a pink food coloring and “pink slime is in ground beef scraps”. She
mentions that direct and indirect food additives are sugar and salt which is a direct
food additive, and indirect food additive are accompanied with packaging and
handling. Canion includes in her article, that the neurological disorders these
chemicals cause are ADD, ADHD, strokes, and Alzheimer’s disease. She also
includes that these chemicals not only affect us as adults and growing children, but
they also affect us, as we are a developing fetus.
Birth defects can be caused by prepackaged and processed foods ingested
by a mother and affect the immune system of the fetus in the womb. These
chemicals can cause DNA structure damage and premature growth of the growth
plate in a fetus before it’s born. Finally in two thousand and thirteen, scientists are
investigating chemicals that are injected into prepackaged and processed food
products. They are trying to identify the exact cause and affect of the chemicals
and reduce birth effects. The foods we buy in grocery stores are not the only foods
we find these chemicals in.
In the article of How Junk Food Can Cause Obesity “David H Freedman”
He states that Americans eat too much junk food, and this is why the United States
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has a high obesity rate. According to Freedman the chemicals that cause obesity
leads to fat. He says that these chemicals cause high blood pressure in many
people, and the chemicals in prepackaged and processed foods make the food
more appealing to eat. Freedman includes that these chemicals also cause
problems in the endocrine system. He believes that Americans always use the
excuse that they are to busy when they get home from work, or school to cook a
proper meal. He states that prepackaged and processed meals have become a main
staple of our diet. Freedman shows that America has a problem with diet as well as
the lack of exercise. His article says that since America claims to be on a busy
schedule and life style, and ultimately leads to poor eating habits. He states that
the habits have lead to an increase in diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and
neurological disorders. His article mentions that the bad eating habits have gotten
out of control to the point where people are depressed, and potentially suicidal
because of the bullying that is associated with obesity. So my question is, how can
American’s change their eating habits, and improve the way we live?
The book Food Rules by Michael Pollan has many options that can help
America have better eating habits and dieting options. Pollan’s one diet option is
the Primal Blueprint or Paleo diet, which is based on the way we lived as
caveman. He says that the Primal Blueprint or Paleo diet is a great way to change
America’s eating habits to be healthier. He mentions that the Paleo or Primal
Blueprint diet suggests Americans to plan on eating fresh vegetables, fruit, and
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meat, fish, poultry and dairy products. He states that in these diets you don’t eat
any prepackaged or processed meals. He includes in this article that every meal is
loaded with healthy ingredients that are cooked fresh for each meal. As my Dad
likes to say if it has a mother, or it grows on a tree or bush, you can eat it. Pollan
says that Cavemen would expel a lot of energy to locate and hunt food. He says
that they didn’t spend energy to dig, or harvest crops. Another simple rule Pollan
mentions is to eat a proper diet is to “eat only foods that will eventually rot.”
According to Pollan, America needs to start eating these foods and get away from
the prepackaged and processed foods. He says if America switches to a caveman
type diet, we as human beings would think better, and lower the possibilities of
developing ADD/ADHD, If grade school and college students would diminish the
amount of prepackaged and processed foods their ability to focus would improve.
He mentions that a simple rule for selecting a good breakfast cereal is, “don’t eat
breakfast cereals that change the color of the milk” (Pollan). He concludes that
cereals that change the color of their milk are full of refined carbohydrates and
chemical additives that are not good for you. He states that snacks have a rule to
follow as well, “limit your snacks to unprocessed plant foods” (Pollan). His last
statement is that prepackaged and processed snacks are loaded with fats, salt, and
sugar causing a higher rate of obesity in Americans.
The article by Suzanne Havala Hobbs, and the book by Steve Ettlinger have
talked about chemicals that are in prepackaged and processed foods, and why
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these chemicals are harmful to our bodies. The article by Phyllis B Canion “The
Toxic Waste Dump” discussed the effects of chemicals in prepackaged and
processed foods that harm the body. The article by David H. Freedman “How Junk
Food Can End Obesity”, mentions better options for human beings to choose from
to lead themselves to a better eating habit. Lastly Food Rules by “Michael Pollan”
gives awesome tips on how to eliminate the majority of prepackaged and
processed foods from our diets, and switch to healthier fresh wholesome food.
Identifying that prepackaged and processed foods are loaded with dangerous
chemicals, we as American’s should choose to change to a healthier diet. So find
those foods that are not prepackaged or processed and buy fresh products. Get
creative with fresh produce and vegetables and make a healthy wholesome meal.
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Works Cited
Canion, Phyllis B. "Our Body: The Toxic Waste Dump." Academic Search Complete.
EBSCO, Sept.-Oct. 2012. Web.
Ettlinger, Steve. Twinkie Deconstructed. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. Print.
Freedman, David H. "How Junk Food Can End Obesity." Master FILE Premier.
EBSCO, July-Aug. 2013. Web.
Hobbs, Suzanne H. "What’s Really on Your Plate?” Academic Search Complete.
EBSCO, Sept. 2005. Web.
Leon, Warren, and Caroline S. Dewaal. Is Our Food Safe? New York: Three Rivers,
2002. Print.
Pollan, Michael. Food Rules an Eaters Manual. New York: Penguin Group, 2009. Print.