Jan. 28 ~ Toxin of the Day: BHA/BHT

BHA stands for Butylated Hydroxyanisole. It is a preservative that prevents or slows oxidization in fats. (an antioxidant but not the good kind found in fruits and vegetables.) It is more prevalently added to higher fat foods to prevent rancidity. The FDA put it on the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list, however recommends limiting the consumption and has asked that additional testing be done. That suggests to me that they don't really find it that safe. Closely related to BHA is it's chemical cousin, BHT or Butyl Hydroxytulane. The chemical effects are the same

BHA has been shown in animal studies to cause cancer in at least 3 different species, in different organs in each species. It has also been proven to cause brain damage, upset the endocrine balance, and severe allergic reactions. The US Dept of Health and Human Service is quoted as saying that BHA is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." BHT is stored in human fat and can be released into the body in large doses during weight loss. It has been shown to increase the risk of cancer in animal studies.

Both of these chemicals are commonly found in potato chips, chewing gum, and vegetable oils. These potential carcinogens are also found in many cosmetic products including lip balm and diaper rash cream for babies.

BHA and BHT are completely banned in Europe and cannot be used in either cosmetics or food. In North America the Cosmetic Safety Database classifies BHA as a "high risk" product and lists the following as indicated health effects:

cancer

developmental/reproductive toxicity

allergies/ immunotoxicity

organ system toxicity

endocrine disfunction

bioaccumulation

biochemical or cellular level changes

neurotoxity/ecotoxicity

I came upon the cosmetic information accidentally but it makes me realize that as we strive for chemical-free foods, applying these same chemicals to our skin may be equally harmful.

BHA and BHT are now on my list of products to keep OUT of my house!

Jan. 24: Toxin of the Day ~ Carrageenan

What is this mysterious ingredient I keep finding on the labels of yogurt and ice cream? Is it prime to be a Toxin of the Day?

Yup. Like anything else on the ingredient list we can't picture coming from it's source, Carrageenan is less than desirable for our consumption. It comes from seaweed and is used to increase viscosity in foods. The seaweed is treated with a hot solution of potassium hydroxide, and then the cellulose is removed by centrifugation and filtration. Then through evaporation the cellulose is dried and then ground for commercial use.

Carrageenan is frequently found in dairy products like cottage cheese, yogurt and ice cream, beer, pates, shaved ham, fruit gushers (it's the gel gooey stuff in the middle), toothpaste and soy milk. If you don't want to eat it, you can also locate it in sexual lubricants, where it is being tested for it's ability to protect the user against certain sexually transmitted diseases. Other uses are in fire-fighting foam and shoe polish.

Carrageenan degrades in high heat or acidic settings, forming poligeenan. Animal studies have linked consumption of this substance to gastrointestinal and cancer. Studies have also related it to the worsening of Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms and Crohn's disease symptoms.

The World Health Organization expressed "concern about the potential promotion of colon carcinogenesis by Carrageenans." They also noted more research needs to be done regarding the fact that Carrageenans are a prominent ingredient in some baby formulas. They felt that the current tests were inconclusive regarding the safety of this additive.

Carrageenan starts out as seaweed, which sounds healthy and natural. When I looked up studies, I could not find as much resounding evidence that this one is a killer as many of the other additives I have researched. This is the absolute fact I gleaned from my research: Carrageenan is a Vaseline-like substance that when orally consumed, coats the stomach with an oily greasy residue that may cause gastro-intestinal distress. It may or may not give me cancer, but it is much more likely that it will make me think I am lactose intolerant or suffering from a food allergy when all I am suffering from is an additive reaction. I would NOT feed my babies a formula containing this creation, nor do I plan to include anything with this ingredient in our family meals.

This one might be a bit of a toss up whether or not it's an actual toxin. That being said, I plan to err on the side of safety and wholesomeness.

Jan. 23: Toxin of the Day ~ MSG & Friends

Everyone knows MSG is not good for you. A lot has been written about the terrible migraines that some people get from it. But there are a lot more side effects to MSG than migraines. Further, there are a lot of sneaky names for the substance so that "food" manufacturers can sneak it into their products without touting that they contain Monosodium Glutamate.

MSG is a flavor enhancer obtained by the fermentation of carbohydrates. Initially it came from the fermentation of wheat, but now it more commonly comes from corn, beets, sugar cane or molasses. It is an amino acid called glutamic acid.

The "food" industry uses MSG to mask lower quality (ie, cheaper) ingredients. Studies have been done regarding the addictive quality of MSG. The brain craves it after a while. It gives a new meaning to the ad slogan, "Betcha can't eat just one!"

Serious health concerns surround MSG. MSG is classified as an excitotoxin, which means that it triggers death in certain cells. Concerns include: Seizures, brain cell death, brain damage, allergic reactions, headaches and migraines, strokes, hypoglycemia, and brain tumors. Some studies have suggested excessive consumption could trigger brain issues like Parkinsons and Alzheimers. These studies have not been verified, but if it is a chemical that causes tiny changes in the brain of the consumer, it does not sound that far-fetched. Asthmatic allergic reactions are frequent.

Studies in Asia have concluded that the consumption of MSG may be correlated to a higher BMI. The reason for this? Have you ever had a big Chinese meal and then 2 hours later you are starving? That situation is so common it is almost cliched. It happens because the MSG causes an surge in the production of insulin from the pancreas. The insulin is there to consume sugar, but MSG is not a sugar. You become so ravenously hungry because your body becomes extremely low on sugar.

All of these effects are more pronounced in infants and children. Their little systems can't handle it. Dr. Russell Blaylock, author of Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills says that there is "overwhelming evidence" that MSG can cause obesity and metabolic syndrome in children. Studies on young rats showed lesions on the brains of MSG fed rats, and the inability to learn their way through a maze. Yet, if the labels are read, some BABY FORMULAS even contain MSG hidden under other names. In the 1960s, after a series of Congressional hearings, they baby food manufacturers finally stopped putting MSG in their harmless looking little jars of baby food.

The FDA allows MSG to be in our food. They have added the caveat that the label must state that the product contains MSG. So the "food" industry has bypassed that by inviting MSG's friends to the party. Every label is like a veritable costume ball. First, here is a list of items that are MSG:

Monosodium Glutamate

Glutamate

Hydrolized Vegetable Protein

Autolyzed Yeast

Hydrolyzed Plant Protein

Plant Protein Extract

Sodium Caseinate

Calcium Caseinate

Yeast Extract

Textured Protein (including TVP)

Hydrolyzed Oat Flour

Corn Oil

Now, if that list does not contain enough aliases, I have a couple more lists. These are items that "sometimes" contain MSG or "may" contain MSG:

Malt Extract or Flavoring

Broth

Boullion

Stock Flavoring

Natural Flavors

Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring

Seasoning

Spices

Maltodextrin

Whey Protein and Concentrate

Enzymes

Soy Protein Isolate

Soy Protein Concentrate

This begs the question: If MSG is safe, why do the manufacturers feel the need to hide it under so many different names? Why must I keep a list with me when I go to the grocery store of all the names it may be hidden under? I think this is all quite suspicious.

Because it is a fermentation of natural products the FDA does allow MSG to be considered a "natural flavoring". It IS natural. Natural does not always mean good for us. If it has to be brought forth in a lab and separated, then added to our food, it is not food the way nature intended.

I have to go read some labels in my cupboards now. I think some of this nasty snuff may have snuck into my house under the guise of a natural flavoring.

Jan. 21:Toxin of the Day ~ Sodium Nitrate & Nitrite

Today's lucky toxin winner.....SODIUM NITRATE/NITRITE!

Nitrates and Nitrites (first cousins in the preservative family) are preservatives that are widely used. They are most prominent in processed meats. They add a pinkish color to the meat, which would otherwise be an unappetizing brown or gray. They also inhibit the growth of spores that could potentially cause botulism. They are present in most smoked and cured meats, including but not limited to: ham, bacon, lunch meat, hot dogs, bologna, salami, dry sausage, and fresh sausage.

Nitrates and -ites on their own are relatively harmless. The problems occur when the body goes to break those chemicals down. As they are metabolized they convert to NITROSAMINES, which have been proven to be extremely dangerous. Nitrosamines are linked to stomach cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer and esophageal cancer. In babies, nitrates can lead to a potentially fatal condition called methemoglobinemia. This means that it can cause an issue in the child where the blood is not transporting oxygen to the body's tissues, which can lead to oxygen deprivation and cyanosis.

One extremely alarming study undertaken by the Cancer Prevention Coalition in Los Angeles County stated that children that consumed more than 12 hot dogs per month have 9 times the normal risk of developing childhood leukemia. The statistics were also poor for children whose fathers consumed 12 hot dogs per month during the time of conception. If their mothers consumed hot dogs more than once a week during pregnancy the child's risk of brain tumors doubled.

Also cooking foods containing nitrates using extreme high heat cooking methods like frying can cause the conversion to a more harmful chemical to occur. If you MUST eat hot dogs or pepperoni, boiling is preferable to high heat baking, grilling or frying. (Boiled pepperoni?)

Many vegetables also contain nitrates and -ites. However the vitamins C and D present in vegetables inhibit the metabolizing of the chemical into nitrosamines. So that means our veggie supply is safe.

Strong recommendations have been made against the consumption of nitrates and nitrites, particularly in pregnant or breast feeding women and young children. Some of the organizations making these recommendations are:

The Cancer Prevention Coalition, Health Canada and the American Society for Clinical Nutrition

After researching this, I have to say, bacon has lost a great deal of it's appeal for me.

Jan. 20: Toxin of the Day ~ Olestra

Today let's shine the spotlight on Olestra, which is being promoted as a dieter's best friend in the US. It is a fat substitute that actually has no fat, no calories, and no cholesterol. Sounds great? Research tells us that the side effects may not be worth a few fat free potato chips. You make the decision based on the information I have found.

Olestra is created by adding fatty acids to a sucrose molecule. The molecule is too large to be absorbed through the intestinal walls. It therefore, cannot be digested so does not add to the fat or caloric value of the food that contains it.

Proctor and Gamble currently holds the patent on Olestra. From 1971, when it was rejected by the FDA, they have been performing research and applying political pressure, and finally got the approval they desired in 1996. In 2000, the FDA mandated the following warning label on products containing Olestra:

WARNING: THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS OLESTRA. OLESTRA MAY CAUSE ABDOMINAL CRAMPING AND LOOSE STOOLS. OLESTRA INHIBITS THE ABSORPTION OF SOME VITAMINS AND NUTRIENTS. VITAMINS A, D, E, AND K HAVE BEEN ADDED.

The FDA removed the warning requirement in 2003, despite the fact that they had received over 20,000 complaints during that time, citing a study conducted by P&G on 3000 people who reported nothing more severe than increased bowel movements.

Health Canada has reviewed Olestra and has banned the product from food in Canada. Great Britain has also banned the product.

In the US, the CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest), a non-profit organization, paints a very different picture of the side effects than P&G. They noted side effects like:

severe diarrhea

abdominal cramps

explosive uncontrollable bowel movements

explosive sudden vomiting

bloody stools

The CSPI has been lobbying the FDA to ban Olestra, or at the very least, return the warning label to the front of products containing Olestra.

Fat free products are big business, and you can read a million studies on any product and pull information to support either side. The fact that several governments have looked at this and decided it was unsafe makes me lean strongly to the side of avoidance.

The foods that have Olestra added to them are not part of a healthy diet either before or after the chemistry project. However if I am going to eat chips, I am going to make a homemade olive oil version or I am going to just go for the gusto and grab the regular store bought kind. Either way, I know I won't be suffering some of those horrible sounding side effects like uncontrollable bowel movements. There is no chip in the world worth that!

Jan. 12: Toxin of the Day ~ Calcium Chloride

In my search for cheese today, I discovered every pre-packaged cheese had one thing in common - Calcium Chloride. I finally discovered a clean organic cheese that was outlandishly expensive to top our pizzas tonight, but it left me curious to know, what is Calcium Chloride and can I get away with the cheapo cheese next time?

Calcium Chloride, I discovered, is used by the dairy industry to make the cheese dry and firm. It is a by-product of the creation of soda ash, which is made by adding ammonia to limestone. Non-food uses for Calcium Chloride include road de-icer (sprayed on the roads during snow storms to keep the roads from freezing), an additive in plastics and an additive in fire extinguishers. It is also used to help set concrete. Industries are warned that Calcium Chloride will corrode steel.

This is another chemical listed on the Canadian MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet.) It carries the warning that Calcium Chloride is an irritant to skin. Also the MSDS says:

WARNING! CAUSES IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED.

The instructions continue to recommend the induction of vomiting and immediate medical treatment if swallowed.

I believe we will be sticking with the expensive cheese from now on. I understand that these warnings are for the pure substance, unadulterated by food, and a high concentration of Calcium Chloride, but I cannot find it acceptable to consume or to feed my children things that are poisonous. Not even in what the FDA calls "acceptable amounts" .

Please read the labels on everything you purchase. If you aren't certain what it is, don't eat it until you look it up! Then, at least, you are making an educated decision.

Jan. 11: Toxin of the Day - Potassium Bromate

Here is just a little more information about commercially packaged bread. Today's toxin is geared to our American friends, as this ingredient is illegal in Canada. The ingredient to look out for is Potassium Bromate. This substance is used to heighten the volume of the baked good less expensively than additional yeast. As it breaks down, most, but not all, of the chemical breaks down into bromide, which is relatively harmless. However a small amount of the Bromate remains, and this is where the trouble lies. Bromates have been proven to cause cancer in animal studies. So conclusive are these studies that every country in the world except the USA and Japan have banned the addition of this substance to food.

Other uses for Potassium Bromate are as a veterinary drug - it is commonly used as an anti-seizure medication for dogs and cats. I also found a reference that stated when mixed with aluminum it could be a fracturing agent for concrete.

Potassium Bromate is a proven carcinogen. Experiments have revealed that this chemical is a "complete carcinogen", which means the substance both initiates and promotes cancerous activity in cells. Potassium Bromate has been linked to kidney cancer and kidney failure.

The Material Safety Data Sheet in Canada issues the following warnings about the substance when used in an industrial setting:

DANGER! STRONG OXIDIZER.
CONTACT WITH OTHER MATERIAL MAY CAUSE FIRE OR FORM SHOCK SENSITIVE MATERIALS.
MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED.
HARMFUL IF INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN.
CAUSES IRRITATION TO EYES, SKIN ,AND RESPIRATORY TRACT.
MAY CAUSE KIDNEY DAMAGE.

The MSDS also recommends "impervious protective clothing", safety goggles, and personal respirators when dealing with this substance.

I think that says it all, don't you?

Apparently it is difficult with new laws for the FDA to ban substances that are already in use. They can only request that the manufacturers phase out a chemical. Personally, I feel that the FDA is there to protect the consumer, and I think it is tragic that laws are passed that protect the rights of the food manufacturers to increase and maintain their profits by poisoning people.

Please read your labels! If you can't picture the source of the ingredient in your head (plant, animal, etc) DON'T EAT IT AND DON'T FEED IT TO YOUR CHILDREN!!!

Jan. 6: Toxin of the Day - Sodium Benzoate

Today's lucky toxin is.......Sodium Benzoate!!!!!!!!!!!

This killer chemical is generally found in acidic foods like salad dressings, carbonated beverages, pickles and condiments. It's purpose in these foods is to act as a retardant to fungus and bacteria.

A report by Professor Jim Stevenson at Southampton University states that when sodium benzoate is mixed with certain artificial food colors it can result in an increase in hyperactive behaviour in children. Stevenson recommends avoiding Sodium Benzoate.

Even more frighteningly, when combined with ascorbic acid, a very common additive, the mixture of the two creates benzene, which has been proven to cause leukemia and other types of cancer.


If you choose not to consume your Sodium Benzoate, it can also serve the purpose of acting as a fuel in "whistle mix" in fireworks, as it makes a loud whistling noise when ignited. It is also an anti-corrosive in automotive antifreeze.

Currently, Coca Cola is looking for a substitute for Sodium Benzoate, and has plans to phase the ingredients out of their soft drinks as soon as a substitute becomes available.

Read your labels!!!!

Jan. 5 - Toxin of the Day: Trisodium Phosphate

I'd like to introduce a new feature on my blog, The Toxin of the Day! Food companies are doing North America a huge disservice by legally introducing poisons into the food we feed our children and consume each day.

Consider preservatives for a moment. How do you think they preserve food? They preserve food by making it inhospitable to mold and bacteria. Basically, most of them are nothing but minute doses of pesticides. If they are toxic to bacteria, how do you think that they relate to our bodies? People walk around feeling sick and exhausted all of the time, and I firmly believe it is because of the constant influx of toxins we are voluntarily consuming.

Today's lucky winner is Trisodium Phosphate. Sodium phosphates are used as an emulsifier - that means they blend foods that would not normally stay blended. They are commonly found in processed cheeses, processed meats, and canned soups. It can also be used as a leavening agent in batter or commercial cakes.

Now the fun part: let's see what else Trisodium Phosphate is used for and decide whether or not we want to eat it!

The primary use for this chemical is in cleaning products. Particularly, it is the active ingredient in many toilet bowl cleaners. These cleaners carry the warning:

MAY DAMAGE GROUT AND CORRODE METAL. USE GLOVES WHILE HANDLING THIS PRODUCT.......

The Clean Water Act has taken steps to limit use of this product in cleaning supplies because of the damage it causes to the environment. They have great ecological concerns about this chemical being introduced into our water supply. The FDA, however, still deems this safe to eat.

I don't know about you, but I have no interest in feeding myself or my family any food that contains this product.

PLEASE READ YOUR LABELS!!! If you can't picture in your head the source of the ingredient, you probably don't want to eat it.

I'll be back later to talk about today's food.