oday, we are all being constantly bombarded by chemicals, poisons and toxins. Virtually everything that we eat or drink makes us less healthy. The vast majority of citizens gladly consume aspartame, fluoride, BPA, genetically-modified food, pesticides, high fructose corn syrup, pharmaceutical drugs and toxic vaccines without any concern that those substances may ruin their health. But the truth is that we are getting sicker and sicker and sicker as a nation. According to one recent report, the United States has dropped to 49th place in the world in overall life expectancy. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes are absolutely exploding. So how in the world are we supposed to have a healthy and vibrant economy when virtually everything that we eat and drink is constantly making us sick like toxic food additives ? These substances, widely used in the more industrialized countries, are normally defined as non-nutritive substances which are intentionally added to food, generally in small quantities, to improve its appearance, flavour, texture or storage properties. Although not contaminants in the strict sense, they may give rise to harmful chemical changes and should be regarded as potentially toxic materials. For example, nitrates or nitrites have been widely used as preservatives, but have been found to cause methaemoglobinaemia, especially in young children, and may give rise to carcinogenic nitrosamines. Certain non-nutritive sweetening agents (such as cyclamates) have been widely used in recent years, but it has been found that bladder tumours develop in animals to which they are fed in relatively high doses. As a result, the use of these agents has been restricted or completely prohibited in a number of countries 31 artificial colours and more than 2,000 artificial flavours are actually listed.
A single strawberry flavour of ice cream can contain as many as 55 different additives. In all, 2,800 substances are intentionally added to food in the USA. Most additives are use to replace flavours and colour destroyed by processing, disguise second-rate (and sometimes bad) food, and turn basic and relatively cheap ingredients into costly ‘convenience’ foods. Some additives are harmless, but some are known to be health risks, among them the azo coal tar dyes used for colouring, particularly the yellow dye Tartrazine, E102 and the dyes E104-133, 142, 151 and 154-155; the benzoate preservatives, E210-213; and the purine flavour enhancers, E627-635. Food scientist, toxicologists and control officials mention food problems in the following decreasing order: microbial contamination of food, natural toxicants in food, environmental contamination of food and food additives. Food additives serve the interests of both the consumer and the producer of foodstuffs since they inhibit the spoilage of food, thus reducing the losses and enabling greater production at a lower cost. They increase the viability of the diet, make preparation of food more convenient and help stabilize the quality of food.
Many countries require a toxicological analysis of any food additive which determines, in most cases, the average amount of a substance expressed in mg/kg of body weight which can be taken daily in the diet over a lifetime without risk considering all known factors. It should be noted that food flavouring substances are different from food additives as there are several thousand flavouring substances which occur naturally. Most flavouring substances are identical substances to the tens of thousands which have been detected in the flavouring component of natural foods such as fruits, spices, vegetables, milk and meat products. The natural flavouring component of foods is invariably an extremely complicated mixture comprising a few dozen to several thousand different chemicals of natural origin.
| Typical foods found in: | Chemical’s Names: | Potential Health Effects? |
| Meat products | Chemicals found in Meat Products:
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| Food, water, even lipsticks | Heavy metals | Severe anemia, permanent brain damage, Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, diminished intelligence, impaired immune system, behavioral disorders, as well as death. Click here for more info. |
| Flavor enhancer of tomatoes, aged cheese and mushrooms. Found in a seaweed sauce. Added to frozen and canned foods to cover any unpleasant tastes. | Glutamic acid, most commonly found in the form monosodium glutamate (MSG) | If there is a high level of glutamates in the bloodstream, glutamate can enter the brain and cause the neurons to misfire, causing physical and psychological problems, and in extreme cases, permanent damage.
There is evidence that behavioral problems in children previously thought to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or emotional problems might be caused at least in part by the glutamates in their diet. There have been numerous cases of children thought to be “problem” children undergoing a remarkable change when MSG is eliminated from their diet. |
| Cola and non cola soft drinks, flavored mineral waters, fruit juice, fruit drinks | Benzene (Preservative) | Click here for information. |
| Deserts, bakery goods, beverages | Artificial & Questionable “Natural” Sweeteners | Linked to cancers, hyperactivity / ADHD / learning disability – Click here for info |
| Decaffeinated Coffee | methylene chloride – a solvent that is used to remove caffeine from coffee. This process leaves this chemical in the coffee. | Proven carcinogenic that is toxic to lungs, the nervous system, liver, mucous membranes, central nervous system (CNS). Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. |
| Sodas, sweets, jams, cereals, snack foods, canned fish, packaged soups | Tartrazine aka FD&C Yellow No:5; CI Acid Yellow23, CI Food Yellow 4. Coal tar dye. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon.
* artificial color – Banned in Norway, Austria and Finland. Restricted use in Sweden and Germany. |
Cancer probability. Known to provoke asthma attacks (though not recognized by the US FDA) and urticaria (nettle rash) in children (the US FDA estimates 1:10 000). May cause altered states of perception and behavior, uncontrolled hyper agitation and confusion; wakefulness in young children. Is also known to inhibit zinc metabolism and interfere with digestive enzymes. |
| Soft drinks | Yellow 2G, Acid yellow 17, CI Food yellow 5, Coal tar dye
* artificial color – Banned in Australia (1992), Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and USA. |
May cause asthma, rashes and hyperactivity |
| Cereals, bakery, sweets, snack foods, ice cream / lollies, drinks and canned fish, orange squash, jelly, jam, cakes, soups, desert mixes, yoghurt, sauces | Sunset Yellow FCF, Orange Yellow S, FD&C Yellow No:6, CI Food yellow 3
* artificial color – * Banned in Finland, Norway and the UK. |
Can provoke allergic reactions such as abdominal pain, hyperactivity, hives, nasal congestion, bronchoconstriction, kidney tumours, chromosomal damage, and distaste for food. It produces urticaria, swelling of the blood vessels, gastric upset. Potentially dangerous to asthmatics |
| Sweets, cakes, biscuits, drinks, condiments, medications | FD&C Red No:40 | Has been connected with cancer. |
| Milk deserts, sweets, biscuits, ice creams, baked goods, confectionary | Indigotine, Indigo carmine, FD&C Blue No:2, synthetic coal tar dye.
* artificial color – Banned in Norway. |
May cause nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure, skin rashes, breathing problems, brain tumors and other allergic reactions. |
| Dairy products, sweets and drinks | Brilliant blue FCF, FD&C Blue Dye No:1, CI Acid blue 9, CI Food blue 2, CI Pigment blue 24
* artificial color – Banned in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway Switzerland, Sweden. |
Can cause hyperactivity, skin rashes, bronchoconstriction (combined with 127 and 132), chromosomal damage. |
| Sulphured dried fruit, fruit drinks, wine, meat, and as a processing aid to control physical properties of flour | Sulphur dioxide (SO2) – a preservative used in gaseous form or as salts (sulfites); also prevents enzymic and non-enzymic browning. This additive is unsafe or very poorly tested | Protects vitamin C, but destroys vitamin B1. Small amounts may cause asthma and anaphylactic shock. Dangerous for asthma, allergy sufferers,
Has resulted in deaths. Banned on fresh fruits and vegetables.” The main danger of sulphur dioxide as someone mentioned earlier is for those who are sensitive or allergic to sulfites. |
| Sugar-coated flour confectionery, silver coated tablets. | Aluminum | There is evidence that aluminum accumulation in body cells could be toxic and linked to Parkinson-type diseases, or that skeletal deformations could occur. Suspect of being a neuron-toxic hazard and been linked to osteoporos |
Some useful instructions on how to avoid toxic food are:
– Select Organic and Non-Toxic Foods. Begin your non-toxic shopping experience by heading to the organic food section of your local grocer. Depending on the size of the store, organic foods and health foods may be mixed together in the same section. Organic produce is usually displayed near non-organic produce.
– Visit health food stores or dedicated organic grocery stores. Clerks and managers in these stores will show you how to select the best meats. In general, eat free-range, grass-fed beef. Choose milk from cows not treated with hormone cocktails like “rBST.”
– Select foods that are high in antioxidants. Organic cereals, berries, leafy green vegetables and nuts eliminate unnecessary preservatives while packing the antioxidant punch you need to maintain good health. Individuals who eat antioxidants can protect themselves against heart disease and cancer.
– Choose individual organic fruits and vegetables carefully. The lack of strong insecticides or pesticides means that tomatoes, apples and other perishables are susceptible to infestations. Look for punctures or damaged produce. Report any you find to the organic foods manager.
– Purchase healthy foods you’re sure your family will actually eat. It’s easy to go overboard and serve up organic vegetable stir-fry every night. If you have picky eaters at home, it’s a good idea to transition into non toxic living gradually. This will save money and reduce food waste.
-Read labels carefully in order to determine whether a product is organic. Products that contain artificial coloring agents are not strictly organic. You can locate legitimate organic grocers on the “Organic Consumers Associations”
– Put away additional money for organic and non toxic foods on a weekly basis. Depending on the store, healthy foods can be 2 to 3 times more expensive than traditional food products. Respond quickly to any allergic reactions that you or your family may have to organic food. Food allergies can lead to dizziness and other symptoms which need to be treated by a family doctor or an emergency room technician.
