It seems hardly a day goes by now without some company announcing they are removing a chemical or artificial ingredient from food product, and that’s fantastic! However, for every chemical removed from a product, there are more still being used.
Tartrazine
Also known as Yellow No. 5, this chemical and its fellow food dyes are for the most part still found in many food products. Kraft announced that tartrazine would no longer be found in some of its macaroni and cheese varieties after consumers called for its removal. However, some dyes like Blue 1 and Red 40 are still widely used in candies and baked goods and have been found to cause hyperactivity in children. Though, so has candy.
Also known as Yellow No. 5, this chemical and its fellow food dyes are for the most part still found in many food products. Kraft announced that tartrazine would no longer be found in some of its macaroni and cheese varieties after consumers called for its removal. However, some dyes like Blue 1 and Red 40 are still widely used in candies and baked goods and have been found to cause hyperactivity in children. Though, so has candy.
Propyl gallate
As a preservative, propyl gallate is often used alongside BHA and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Its purpose is to prevent oily products from oxidizing and going bad. It is suspected that in addition to keeping mayonnaise from spoiling, propyl gallate can interfere with human hormones. Though some scientists think the link between propyl gallate and problems in the endocrine system are definite, more research still needs to be done.
As a preservative, propyl gallate is often used alongside BHA and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Its purpose is to prevent oily products from oxidizing and going bad. It is suspected that in addition to keeping mayonnaise from spoiling, propyl gallate can interfere with human hormones. Though some scientists think the link between propyl gallate and problems in the endocrine system are definite, more research still needs to be done.
Silicon dioxide
Silicon dioxide and silica are fancy-sounding names for something simple that we’ve all encountered before: beach sand. Not just for building sand castles, silicon dioxide is used in dry coffee creamer and other foods with a powdery substance. Though the health risk of consuming sand is low, studies have shown that high exposure can cause respiratory problems. Perhaps we should leave the sand on the beach and out of our food.
Silicon dioxide and silica are fancy-sounding names for something simple that we’ve all encountered before: beach sand. Not just for building sand castles, silicon dioxide is used in dry coffee creamer and other foods with a powdery substance. Though the health risk of consuming sand is low, studies have shown that high exposure can cause respiratory problems. Perhaps we should leave the sand on the beach and out of our food.
Triacetin
If you’ve ever wondered what makes gum and chewy candy gummy look no further, the answer is triacetin. It also can keep food from drying out. Triacetin has been approved and is generally recognized as safe by the FDA, though many no longer put stock in the FDA’s opinion of safety when it comes to food products. Probably because products like triacetin are not only used in foods, but in cigarette filters and Viagra as well.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes gum and chewy candy gummy look no further, the answer is triacetin. It also can keep food from drying out. Triacetin has been approved and is generally recognized as safe by the FDA, though many no longer put stock in the FDA’s opinion of safety when it comes to food products. Probably because products like triacetin are not only used in foods, but in cigarette filters and Viagra as well.
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