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The Frightful 15: Food Additives That are Killing You
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9. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)
Like BHT, this is a preservative, but it is far more dangerous than its cousin BHT. BHA has negative effects on the neurological system, alters behavior, and is a possible carcinogen. This preservative is found in numerous items including breakfast cereal, popcorn, potato and corn chips, gum, margarines, dehydrated potatoes, and beer. BHA is known to cause cancer in studies done with rats and might cause cancer in humans. The US Department of Health and Human Services made a report in 2011 from their National toxicology Program and in this study they reported that BHA should be reasonable anticipated to be a human carcinogen. The International Cancer Agency also lists this preservative as a possible carcinogen. In California, this is listed as a known carcinogen and must include warning labels on foods sold in that state. BHA is banned in Japan and the European Union. It is banned in infant foods in the UK and must be listed on other types of foods. Why is this obviously dangerous chemical still allowed in foods sold in America?
SEE ALSO: Big Food Sells the Same Products in Other Countries – Minus the Chemicals
10. Natural and Artificial Flavors
You might wonder why “natural” flavors are included in this list. Actually, what we should be asking is what exactly a “natural” flavor is? Dirt is a natural flavor but not too many people are interested in eating that, are they?
Most people assume natural flavor means something like strawberry or garlic flavoring. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. “Natural” flavors are something they make in a lab, made in the same manner as artificial flavors. The only difference here is that natural flavors must come from a natural source. This means that “natural” flavors must start off with some essential oil, extract or even just a bit of plant material, vegetable juice, or even edible yeast. That’s the only difference. They start off with a bit of the natural element, and then create flavors from that bit of natural plant or spice. Natural flavors have very little in common with the natural product from where they once started; In fact, natural flavors are almost identical to the synthetic ones. Many “natural’ flavors contain BHA, solvents, or propylene glycol, more commonly known as antifreeze. Unless your food states that is has CERTIFIED natural flavor, it’s mostly synthetic chemicals. Studies done involving rat show that all synthetic flavors cause various types of cancer.
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Rosemarie Bass
Apr 22, 2015 at 1:57 pm
There is a chemical that has just begun to show up in whole ground corn products: fumaric acid. It is replacing natural lime in corn tortillas etc. When I looked it up it was said to be “practically non-toxic”. What???? It either is toxic or is non-toxic. I guess because it will only kill fish instantly and gradually destroys human kidneys it is practically non-toxic as we can live without functioning kidneys dialysis is a great option, right? The chemicals listed in this article, I have already eliminated the hard way; trial and error as I have become so sensitized that the smallest amounts that the tiniest amounts produce poisoning symptoms. Swelling in the extremities, joint and back pain and nasty oozing skin/scalp sores which doctors have told me, I was doing to myself by scratching. Please add fumaric acid to this list ASAP!!! No one should live in utter misery as I have for years. Can you say chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia because that is what they diagnose food additive poisoning as claiming not to know causes those ” mysterious ” ailments.