Horrifying Hidden Food Ingredient

As artificial and engineered ingredients have replaced the natural ones our grandmothers used to cook with, we’re increasingly finding ourselves exposed to potentially harmful chemicals. The problem is many of these chemicals aren’t listed on food packaging either because they’re part of the packaging or because they’re involved in the manufacturing process. Learn more about some of the harmful chemicals you might be consuming.

Phthalates

This derivative of plastic is found in a wide variety of foods, but especially dairy products. While the reason is unclear, it’s thought the plastic tubing used to milk cows contains the chemical that then ends up in the dairy. Phthalates are related to BPA and masquerade as estrogen in your body, leading to hormonal disruption and a host of other effects.

BPA

BPA was very publicly removed from plastic bottles, but is still widely present in the environment and in certain foods. Cans are often lined with BPA, which can then contaminate the food inside. Microwaving plastic food containers can also cause BPA to leech into the foods inside. Like phthalates, this chemical is similar enough to estrogen to act like a hormone in the body, which can disrupt normal hormonal action.

Brominated Vegetable Oil

This chemical is commonly used in drinks and helps keep ingredients from separating on shelves. The problem is it’s been banned as a food additive in several countries and has been linked to neurologic symptoms like headaches, fatigue and a loss of muscle coordination and memory.

Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)

While the FDA has deemed this chemical to be safe for human consumption, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has said it’s reasonably likely to be a carcinogen. The chemical is a preservative used in a wide variety of fast foods to prevent oils and butters from going rancid. In animal studies, the additive has been found to cause cancer in high doses and its effects on humans at lower doses are unclear.
 

Food Colorings

Look on the side of any soft drink or candy bag and you’re likely to see a colorant. Blue 2 (brain tumors), Green 3 (bladder and testicular cancer), Red 3 (thyroid cancer), Red 40 (immune system tumors), Yellow 6 (adrenal tumors and allergic reaction) have all been linked to a variety of cancers in animal studies. While companies claim that low doses of these colorants are harmless, the chemicals are often put in food without significant, long-term testing in humans.

Diacetyl

If you’ve recently had artificially flavored popcorn, you might have had diacetyl. The chemical is a yellow/green liquid that has an intense, buttery flavor. The health effects of diacetyl came to light when several otherwise healthy, young workers with high exposure levels in a factory were all diagnosed with a rare lung disease. At least one lawsuit has been brought and won by a consumer of artificially flavored popcorns for the lung problems he developed. It may also be linked to Alzheimer’s.

3-MCPD

This chemical is used in the manufacture of tea bags and sausage casings and is part of the factory process of breaking down proteins often seen as “hydrolyzed soy protein.” It’s also been found in oyster sauce, hoisin sauce and soy sauce. The chemical is a known carcinogen and may disrupt fertility in males. It’s rarely if ever listed as an ingredient.