http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGqQV6ObF
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60xr0Htyq
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Food Inc: Corn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xThSnJb8mi
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15 Scariest Food Additives
Eat This, Not That
Mrs. Bigham
15 Scariest Food Additives
• There was a time when "fruit flavored" and "cheese flavored" meant
"made with real fruit" and "made with real cheese." Today? It's artificial
everything. Most of the food at your local supermarket is no more
authentic than Snooki's tan. Our fruit comes packaged in Loops, our
cheese delivered via Whiz. Sure, it's edible, but there's no way your great
grandparents would recognize this junk as food.
• The problem with additives runs deep. The FDA currently maintains a list
of ingredients called Everything Added to Food in the United States
(EAFUS), which features more than 3,000 items and counting. Thankfully,
most EAFUS ingredients are benign, but a few of them do have potentially
harmful effects. Why they're legal is a mystery to us. Some of them might
be backed by powerful lobby groups, while others probably survive simply
because some guy at the FDA has too much paperwork on his desk and
hasn't made time to adequately review the data.
• Click ahead to see 15 of the most dubious ingredients hiding in your food.
Even if you're not convinced of their danger, you have to admit this: The
more filler ingredients you cut from your diet, the more space you have
for wholesome, nutritious foods.
Scary Ingredient #1: Olestra
•
A fat substitute synthesized by Procter & Gamble. Because human digestive
enzymes can't break down the big molecules, Olestra contributes 0 calories to
your diet.
Why it’s scary: In the late ’90s, Frito-Lay released Olestra-enhanced WOW chips
and Procter & Gamble introduced Fat Free Pringles. Both products were required
to carry warning labels to notify customers about the risk of "loose stools." Within
4 years, some 15,000 people had dialed in to a hotline set up specifically to handle
adverse-reaction complaints. Apparently the complaints didn't move the FDA,
because in 2003, the administration revoked the warning-label mandate. If you
want to take your chances with diarrhea, go ahead, but first consider this: Olestra
also appears to interfere with the body's ability to absorb some crucial nutrients
like beta-carotene and lycopene. To counteract the effect, processers add some
nutrients back, but it's unlikely that all the blocked nutrients are adequetly
replaced.
Where you’ll find it: Lay’s Light chips, Pringles Light chips
Scary Ingredient #2: Caramel Coloring
• An artificial pigment created by heating sugars. Frequently, this process
includes ammonia.
Why it’s scary: Caramel coloring shows up in everything from soft drinks
and sauces to breads and pastries. When made from straight sugar, it's
relatively benign. But when produced with ammonia it puts off 2methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, chemicals that have been linked
to cancer in mice. The risk is strong enough that the California
government, a bellwether for better food regulation, categorized 4methylimidazole as “known to cause cancer” earlier this year.
Unfortunately, companies aren't required to disclose whether their
coloring is made with ammonia, so you'd be wise to avoid it as much as
you can.
Where you'll find it: Colas and other soft drinks,
La Choy soy sauce, Stove Top stuffing mix
Scary Ingredient #3: Saccharin
• An artificial sweetener discovered by accident in the 1870s.
Why it’s scary: Studies have linked saccharin to bladder tumors in
rats, and in 1977, the FDA required warning labels on all saccharincontaining foods. In 2000, the agency changed its stance and
allowed saccharin to be sold without warning labels. But that
doesn't make it entirely safe. A 2008 Purdue study found that
replacing sugar with saccharin in rats’ diets made them gain more
weight, proving once again that you should be aware of these faux
fat foes.
Where you'll find it: Sweet ‘N Low,
TaB cola
Scary Ingredient #4: Potassium
Bromate
• A compound that conditions flour and helps bread puff up
during baking.
Why it’s scary: Potassium bromate causes thyroid and
kidney tumors in rats, and it's banned from food use in
many countries. In California, products containing
potassium bromate are required to carry a cancer warning.
Fortunately, negative publicity has made the additive
relatively rare, but until the FDA banishes it, you should
remain on the lookout.
Where you'll find it: Johnny
Rockets Hoagie Roll
Scary Ingredient #5: Butylated
Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated
Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
• Petroleum-derived antioxidants and preservatives.
Why they're scary: The Department of Health and Human
Services says BHA is “reasonably anticipated to be a human
carcinogen," yet the FDA allows it to be used anyway. BHT
is considered less dangerous, but in animal research, it too
has resulted in cancer. Oddly, the chemicals aren’t even
always necessary; in most cases they can be replaced with
vitamin E.
Where you'll find it: Goya lard,
Golden Grahams, Cinnamon T
oast Crunch, Orbit gum
Scary Ingredient #6: Partially
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
• A semi-solid fat created when food processors force hydrogen into
unsaturated fatty acids.
Why it's scary: Partially hydrogenated fats are the principle sources
of trans fat in the American diet, and a Harvard study estimated
that trans fat causes 70,000 heart attacks every year. The good
news: Partially hydrogenated oils are beginning to slowly retreat
from our food. Progressive jurisdictions like New York City are
starting to restrict the allowable amounts in restaurants, and many
chains are switching to healthier frying oil. Still, the battle isn’t over.
At Long John Silver’s, for example, there are still 17 menu items
with more than 2 grams of the stuff.
Where you'll find it: McDonald’s McChicken,
Long John Silver’s Broccoli Cheese Soup
Scary Ingredient #7: Sulfites
• Preservatives that maintain the color of food, and by releasing sulfur
dioxide, prevent bacterial growth.
Why it's scary: Humans have used sulfites to keep food fresh for
thousands of years, but some people—especially asthma sufferers—
experience breathing difficulties when exposed. In the 1980s, unregulated
use resulted in at least a dozen deaths, prompting the FDA to slap warning
labels on wine bottles and develop new guidelines for proper use. Now
restaurants can no longer soak fresh ingredients in sulfites. According to
the Center for Science in the Public Interest, there have been no known
deaths since the new legislation took hold. The bottom line: If you're
among the majority of people not sensitive to sulfites, consumption won’t
hurt you. If you're not sure, ask your doctor for a test.
Where you'll find it: Wine, Sun-Maid Mixed Fruit,
Jolly Ranchers, Fig Newtons
Scary Ingredient #8:
Azodicarbonamide
• A synthetic yellow-orange dough conditioner.
Why it's scary: This chemical is used most frequently in the
production of industrial foam plastic, and although the FDA has
approved its use for food in the States, the United Kingdom has
labeled it a potential cause of asthma. In a review of 47 studies on
azodicarbonamide, the World Health Organization concluded that it
probably does trigger asthmatic symptoms. The WHO concluded,
“exposure levels should be reduced as much as possible.” I’ll put it
more concisely: Avoid it.
Where you'll find it: Dunkin’ Donuts
bagels, McDonald’s burger buns
Scary Ingredient #9: Carrageenan
• A thickener and emulsifier extracted from seaweed.
Why it's scary: Seaweed is actually good for you, but carrageenan is
a mere seaweed byproduct. Through animal studies, it has been
linked to cancer, colon trouble, and ulcers. It isn’t certain that
carrageenan harms humans, but avoiding it is clearly the safer
option. Most studies examined degraded forms of the additive, and
research from the University of Iowa found that carrageenan could
be degraded through the normal digestive process.
Where you'll find it: Weight Watchers
Giant Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Bars,
Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches,
Creamsicles
Scary Ingredient #10: Ammonium
Sulfate
• An inorganic salt that occurs naturally near active
volcanoes and is used commercially to nourish yeast
and help bread rise.
Why it's scary: This nitrogen-rich compound is most
often used as fertilizer, and also appears commonly in
flame retardants. Thankfully, the ingredient only
sounds scary—a 2006 Japanese rat study found the
additive to be non-carcinogenic. Both the Center for
Science in the Public Interest and the FDA deem it safe.
Where you'll find it: Nature’s
Own bread, Subway rolls
Scary Ingredient #11: Aspartame
• A zero-calorie artificial sweetener made by combing two amino acids with
methanol. Most commonly used in diet soda, aspartame is 180 times
sweeter than sugar.
Why it’s scary: Over the past 30 years, the FDA has received thousands of
consumer complaints due mostly to neurological symptoms such as
headaches dizziness, memory loss, and, in rare cases, epileptic seizures.
Many studies have shown the sweetener to be completely harmless, while
other have linked the additive to cancer. A 2006 Italian study found that
rats fed high daily doses of aspartame—the equivalent of nearly 3 liters for
a 150-pound human—experienced higher levels of lymphomas, leukemia,
and other types of cancer. Still, after reviewing the study, the FDA
concluded that the results weren’t strong enough to warrant the
confectionary chemical’s removal from the market.
Where you’ll find it: Nutra-Sweet, Equal, Diet Coke,
Diet Pepsi
Scary Ingredient #12: Monosodium
Glutamate (MSG)
• The salt of the amino acid glutamic acid, used to enhance the
savory quality of foods. MSG alone has little flavor, and exactly how
it enhances other foods is unknown.
Why it’s scary: After forty years of scrutiny, research has yet to
reach a definitive verdict on MSG. Studies have shown that injecting
the amino acid into mice causes brain-cell damage, but the FDA
believes these results are not typical for humans. Still, the
administration fields complaints every year for nausea, headaches,
chest pains, and weakness. It could be that the results are limited to
people with acute MSG sensitivity, so the FDA continues to allow
manufacturers to use it.
Where you’ll find it: Hormel Chili, Hamburger
Helper, Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing
Scary Ingredient #13: Nitrates and
nitrites
• Nitrogen-based compounds that are essential for digestion in small
amounts. They occur naturally but are synthetically produced for use in
fertilizer and as food additives. They’re commonly used to cure processed
meats.
Why they’re scary: Nitrates and nitrites have a tendency to fuse with
amino acids to become carcinogenic nitrosamines. Ironically, the
processed meats into which nitrates are commonly added are rich with
amino acids, making nitrosamine formation very likely. In addition to
concerns about cancer, increased nitrate and nitrite intake has been linked
to deaths in Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson’s patients.
Despite the risks, the valuable use of nitrates and nitrites as inhibitors of
botulism warrant their acceptance as food additives in the eyes of the
FDA.
Where you’ll find it: Oscar Meyer hot dogs,
Hormel bacon, Hillshire Farm deli meat
Scary Ingredient #14: Blue #2
• An artificial dye used to color food. It can be used alone or mixed
with other dyes, and the goal is typically to suggest the appearance
of natural food.
Why it’s scary: A study published by the Center for Science in the
Public Interest showed that the ingestion of Blue #2 led to increases
in tumor development in the brain and mammary glands in lab rats.
The FDA dismissed these findings, citing a variety of nebulous
weaknesses in the study’s methods. The bottom line: whether or
not artificial dyes are harmful, the foods they appear in are the
most heavily processed, nutritionally bankrupt foods in the
supermarket.
Where you’ll find it: Fruit Loops, Skittles,
Betty Crocker Rainbow Chip frosting
Scary Ingredient #15: Paraben
• Parabens are used to prevent mold and yeast formation in food,
and they’re also used in cosmetics and toothpaste. Although they
exist in nature, the parabens used in commercial products are
created synthetically.
Why it’s scary: It’s been documented that parabens act as mild
estrogens, and according to the Environmental Working Group, they
can disrupt the natural balance of hormones in your body. In a
Japanese study, male rats fed propyl paraben daily for four weeks
suffered lower testosterone production, and other studies have
found parabens present in breast cancer tissues.
Where you’ll find it: Baskin Robbins sundaes
A Few Others…
Artificial Colorings in Food
• These additives don't add nutrient value, and some
research suggests that some colorings may pose health
dangers, according to the Center for Science in the
Public Interest. The risk is admittedly small, however,
and the evidence often inconclusive.
• Artificial colorings are often found in cereals, candies,
sodas, and snack foods, especially those marketed to
children. They will be noted on the ingredients list by
their color name, such as Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40,
Red 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, and Orange B.
High Fructose Corn-Syrup
• Compared to traditional sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup costs less to
make, is sweeter to the taste, and mixes more easily with other
ingredients. Today, we consume nearly 63 pounds of it per person per year
in drinks and sweets, as well as in other products. High-fructose corn
syrup is in many frozen foods. It gives bread an inviting, brown color and
soft texture, so it’s also in whole-wheat bread, hamburger buns, and
English muffins. It is in beer, bacon, spaghetti sauce, soft drinks, and even
ketchup.
• Research is beginning to suggest that this liquid sweetener may upset the
human metabolism, raising the risk for heart disease and diabetes.
Researchers say that high-fructose corn syrup’s chemical structure
encourages overeating. It also seems to force the liver to pump more
heart-threatening triglycerides into the bloodstream. In addition, fructose
may zap your body’s reserves of chromium, a mineral important for
healthy levels of cholesterol, insulin, and blood sugar.
• To spot fructose on a food label, look for the words “corn sweetener,”
“corn syrup,” or “corn syrup solids” as well as “high-fructose corn syrup.”
Hidden Sugars, as in Fructose,
Sucrose, Dextrose
• More and more packaged foods are sweetened with a
baffling array of sugars, which add calories without
boosting nutritional value. Ingredients that end in the word
"ose" are all forms of sugar, as are honey and corn
sweeteners.
• A recent study at the University of California, Davis showed
that these sweeteners had a similar metabolic effect to
other forms of sugar. Still, all sweeteners add calories but
few nutrients, and they can contribute to weight problems.
• To know exactly how many grams of total sugar a product
contains, check out the nutrient facts label. Four grams of
sugar is the equivalent of a level teaspoon.
Hidden Sugars: Other Names for
Sugar
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Agave nectar
Brown sugar
Cane crystals
Cane sugar
Corn sweetener
Corn syrup
Crystalline fructose
Dextrose
Evaporated cane juice
Fructose
• Fruit juice concentrates
•Glucose
•High-fructose corn syrup
•Honey
•Invert sugar
•Lactose
•Maltose
•Malt syrup
•Molasses
•Raw sugar
•Sucrose
•Sugar
•Syrup