Rows of chemicals line the walls of a chemistry lab, all carefully labeled for safety. Biohazard. Corrosive. Poison. All that and more! Goggles, gloves, lab coats, fire blankets, fume hoods and washing stations are standard equipment, required for safety. Why? Because chemicals are dangerous. What makes them even worse is that, when combined, they can have a violent and unexpected reaction that they would not have had alone.
The irony is that those chemicals that we guard ourselves from so carefully in the lab are increasingly finding their way into our foods.
Now, I love chemistry and I'm all for experimentation, but I try not to eat my experiments! Wandering the aisles of a supermarket, though, reading food labels at random, it's evident that this is exactly what we've been doing.
Take Doritos for instance. In a bag of Spicy Nacho Doritos you will find:
My professional opinion? Yuk! If you can decipher the seemingly endless list of ingredients, you'll notice that not too far down on the list (meaning there's a significant amount of it) is Monosodium Glutamate, or MSG. This chemical is not only highly addictive, but also linked to obesity and who knows what other health problems. Then there are artificial colours – six of them! These beauties are suspected to be both toxic and carcinogenic. Then there are the hydrogenated fats, salt and sugar, and the list goes on…
What else is in your foods?
Diacetyl, a chemical linked to an irreversible lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans can be found in microwave popcorn.
Benzene (yes, the industrial solvent), is the byproduct of two chemicals, sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid, often found in pop.
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a polymer usually found in caulking, adhesives, and grease, is used in McDonald's Fish Filets as an "antifoaming agent".
Olestra (thankfully banned in Canada for its adverse effects) is still allowed in products in the USA, and, in fact, companies are pressuring the FDA to remove the phrase "may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools" phrase from products containing this chemical. It inhibits absorption of vitamins and minerals, causes abdominal cramping and loose stools, and (my favourite) anal leakage. Nice. Where can you find this? American Pringles, among other products.
Artificial Sweeteners Yes, I know there are those of you who love these for their lack of calories, and research on their effects is still ongoing. At the very least, though, they have been linked to weight gain. Recent studies, though, are showing that these guys are also risk factors for metabolic syndrome (excessive abdominal fat, high blood pressure, and high glucose), cancer, and hormonal imbalances.
Hydrogenated Fats & Trans Fats have been in the spotlight recently, as companies are finally being forced to include these on labels. These fats cause blockages in arteries, leading to heart disease. And unfortunately, heart disease doesn't have any symptoms until it becomes a major problem (often until blood vessels are 75% blocked or more!).
And finally, Butylated Hydroxyanisol (BHA), which has been used frequently in packaging (of foods, as well as plastic containers and water bottles) and as a preservative. This chemical has been recently linked to cancer.
This list is by no means inclusive, but it gives you an idea of what's out there. And what's in you.
The results of our dietary choices are toxic, hormonally imbalanced, overweight bodies that are falling victim to diseases at an alarming rate. The solution? Buy products with one ingredient. Apples. Meat. Spinach. Eggs. They may be more work to prepare, but your body will thank you in the end.
A more comprehensive summary of what chemicals to look for on labels is available at http://www.cspinet.org/templates/article_chem_chart.html
-Bethany
