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"#$%&'()) *) Michael Berthold Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1102 25 March 2014 Chemicals in Food, What Are We Actually Eating Foods were not always prevalent with chemicals. After World War II when women started working full time jobs, food companies saw this move and were under the impression that women were not going to have enough time to cook, so the rush for a process that could make food last longer was then sought after. Would you eat cereal if you knew it had jet fuel in it, or drink a soda if it had a lethal poison called Arsenic? These are just some of the chemicals that are found in Americans food. Butylated Hydroxytoluene, although an additive in jet fuel, is also used in cereal to prevent oxidation. Yellow #5, which is found in drinks such as Mountain Dew, is used to change the color of its appearance, but also is derived from coal tar and contains up to 10 ppm of the dangerous chemicals Lead and Arsenic (Jacobson). The corner stone of any college kids diet is Instant Ramen Noodles, but little is known about the hidden dangers this wonderful delight contains. Tertiarybutyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) which is used on Ramen Noodles is a byproduct of petroleum and is often sprayed on cheap foods to prevent discoloration and changes in odor. Others products, such as cosmetics, perfumes, varnishes and lacquers, contain TBHQ to maintain stability. Small amounts of TBQT will not kill a person (although death has occurred from ingesting) or make a person
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!"#$%&'()) +) immediately sick, but long term exposure to it can lead to the weakening of organs and the onset of cancer and tumors. The FDA says that TBHQ must not exceed 0.02 percent of its oil and fat content, but death has occurred from the ingestion of as little as 5 grams, showing the lethality of the chemical. Natasha Logo, author of this article states, TBHQ can also be found in an assortment of products such as McDonalds chicken nuggets and fries, CHEEZ-IT crackers, Wheat Thins, Taco Bells beans, and Little Debbies (Longo). What these chemicals do to our bodies In 2011, a controversial film was released called Fat, Sick And Nearly Dead. In this film, an Australian man named Joe Cross was 310 lbs. His body was loaded up on steroids and painkillers because of all his ailments and diseases. He blamed and linked his ailments to the amount of processed foods he ingested over the years. Joe looked into the mirror and did not like what he saw, so he decided to change his life style. Joe set out across America eating only fruits and vegetables. Over time Joe lost 100lbs and most of his ailments and diseases started to regress. This film shows a valid description of what happens when a person ingests chemicals, and once they change their life style, to one lacking them (Fat Sick and Nearly Dead). After watching this movie, I actually realized what these chemicals can do to the body. The Huffington Post released a story in 2012 about why the FDA is allowing all these dangerous chemicals in food. According to Michael Jacobsen, the author of the article, the reason the FDA allows dangerous chemicals in foods is because they want undeniable proof that the chemical causes harm to
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!"#$%&'()) ,) humans, meaning countless trials of research. The Huffington Post linked that accusation to this story. In 1982 the FDA proposed the food additive sulfate be declared, generally recognized as safe or GRAS, a legal category of substances added to food, even though researchers have put out reports linking sulfates to asthma attacks. This chemical came into the news because restaurants were using it to wash lettuce and potatoes. The use of this chemical was to stop food from turning brown. It took countless deaths and a congressional hearing to finally make the FDA limit the amount of sulfates on fresh vegetables (Jacobson). How the FDA conducts its safety assessment In 2013, Laurie J. Beyranevard, an associate professor of Law at the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems and Vermont University, wrote an article about how the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approach to the regulation of food additives is failing the public. Beyranevard states, in the United States, consumers ingest approximately 150 pounds of additives per year. Many of these substances are innocent spices, but a great number of approved additives in American food, such as aspartame and partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats), raise concern about the health risks that are being allowed. She continues to talk about the fact that more than 3,000 substances fall under the FDAs designation of Everything Added to Food in the United States or (EAFUS), which include all ingredients added directly to food that FDA has either approved as food additives of listed or affirmed as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). For a substance to be considered GRAS and be excluded under
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!"#$%&'()) -) regulation as a food additive, it must be recognized, among experts who have scientific training and experience to determine its safety, as having been adequately shown through procedures to be safe under the condition of its use. Beyranevard concludes by stating substances considered GRAS by the FDA may be considered safe because they have been used for generations and are not unhealthy, yet the regulation for these substances are very broad. The FDA defines safe as whether there is a reasonable certainty in the minds of competent scientists that the substances is not harmful under the intended conditions of use (qtd. in Beyranevard). However, because these additives are largely unregulated by the FDA, they have been included in large quantities in many food products, such that they could become harmful or unsafe due to the unhealthy conditions that result from their consumption (Beyranevand,). I personally believe the reason the FDA allows these chemicals in food, is they believe that individuals are only going to be exposed to only a small amount of chemicals. For instance Yellow # 5, which is found in the soft drink Mountain Dew, has the poison Arsenic in it. Yes, if you just drink one can, there will be no harm, but individuals just dont drink one can of Mountain Dew. Usually people including me, might buy the giant 12 pack from the groceries store, and drink this item overtime and ingesting a larger dosage of chemicals. How to avoid dangerous chemicals One-way individuals watch what chemicals they ingest are from reading the nutrition guide that is mandated on every food item. Although reading the nutrition guide is one way to see what is in food, according to The FDA (Federal
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!"#$%&'()) .) Drug Administration) there is a 20% margin of error allowed on the nutrition guide, meaning something that might have caloric intake of 100 calories might actually have a caloric intake of 120 (Food and Color additive final rule). This might not seem as much of a difference, but for individuals who suffer from diabetes or struggling with weight a 20% difference in the amount of sugar or calories in a food, can become very dangerous. Not all ingredients on the nutrition guide have to be on it as well. The FDA has a list of certain food categories and additives that have to be listed. The rest can simply be left off (Freuman).
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Organic Foods The way many of people and I avoid these dangerous chemicals, is by eating foods labeled as organic (no pesticides or chemicals used on it). But knowing what is really organic and what isnt is the hard part. Many people believe soy and other fruits and vegetables are healthy alternatives to avoid chemicals. These foods are often labeled as organic. The problem with these items is that they have been so genetically altered over the time, that they are no longer in their natural state. The negativity with eating organic is that it is more expensive and requires more land to farm. But knowing Im not ingesting dangerous chemicals or pesticides out ways the few extra dollars. Organic food is not for everyone. Some even believe there is no difference between organic and non-organic. If you have this belief there are still safe ways to avoid chemicals, by eating whole, unpackaged, or minimal-processed foods. For those

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!"#$%&'()) /) foods that do come in packages, it is best to choose the ones with a short ingredient list, featuring whole grain, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and/or beans. These deliver the most nutritional benefits, no matter what the label states (Freuman). Even if you dont believe in the whole organic food craze, there are still ways to avoid all these chemicals.
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!"#$%&'()) 0) Work Cited

Beyranevand, Laurie J. "Generally Recognized As Safe?: Analyzing Flaws In The Fda's Approach To Gras Additives." Vermont Law Review 37.4 (2013): 887-922. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. Dir. Joe Cross and Kurt Engfehr. Perf. Joe Cross. Reboot Media Bev Pictures,, 2010. Online Video "Food and Color Additive Final Rules." FDA. FDA., n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2014. Freuman, Tamara D. "When Nutrition Labels Lie." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 21 Aug. 2012. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. Jacobson, Michael F. "FDA Is Not Protecting Consumers From Unsafe Food Additives." Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Nov. 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2014. Longo, Natasha. "This Is What Happens In Your Stomach When You Consume Packaged Ramen Noodles With a Deadly Preservative." PreventDisease.com. PreventDisease.com, 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
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