What's In That Candy?
What's in that candy? Most likely corn syrup, made from genetically modified corn, among other things. Evidence exist that some of the food additives, currently approved by the FDA for use in food products, are dangerous for consumers and may place your health at risk. Sadly many are targeted at children.
There are currently 5 food additives recently examined and possibly coming under law in California as banned. These include red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, brominated vegetable oil and titanium dioxide. Some of the "foods" containing these toxic chemicals include Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, jellybeans, Pez candy, Campbell’s Soup, Trident sugar-free gum and some breads.
Lets take a look at these 5
1. Titanium dioxide
Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide are used in many foods as an artificial cake additive, anti-caking agent and whitener. It can be found in chewing gum, salad dressings, baked goods and coffee creamer. When the dust is inhaled, titanium dioxide is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans — yet, it’s an ingredient in the breast cancer drug tamoxifen.
A 2017 paper demonstrated titanium dioxide nanoparticles could be found in tissue after only one week of exposure in an animal model at levels relevant to human consumption. The researchers concluded that the data indicated a risk for susceptibility to autoimmune diseases and colorectal cancer when exposed to dietary sources.
A 2021 EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavorings found that based on the evidence and many uncertainties as well as a concern for genotoxicity, titanium dioxide “can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.” Scientists theorized in a 2022 paper that after exposure to titanium dioxide stopped, the toxic effects would continue to be detected.
Using colon cells, they found that exposure caused alterations that were not reversed even after 48 hours. A 2021 review of the literature looked at how titanium dioxide affected the gut microbiota. They evaluated 18 animal studies and acknowledged that while extrapolation from animals to humans is challenging, the review did highlight titanium dioxide plays a key role in gut nanotoxicity.
Did you know, although food companies began phasing out titanium dioxide in products shipped to the EU, it continues to be added to food sold in the U.S., Britain and Canada.
2. Brominated vegetable oil
While the EU has banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO), the FDA allows manufacturers to use it as an emulsifier in citrus-flavored soda to keep the flavor from floating to the top.
BVO contains bromine, which the Daily Mail notes can damage the central nervous system with long-term exposure and has been linked to memory loss, chronic headaches and poor balance.
Mountain Dew removed BVO in 2020, but Sun Drop and other budget and store-brand versions of Mountain Dew still use it. India, Japan and the EU have banned its use as an additive as there are concerns that the bromine could accumulate in fatty tissue.
The EWG warns that drinking large amounts of BVO-containing soda increases your risk of irritation to the skin and mucous membranes, fatigue, loss of muscle coordination and memory and headaches. The risks have been known since the early 1980s and even earlier studies showed animals eating diets contaminated with brominate developed changes to their heart and liver. Yet, since 1958, the FDA has classified it as GRAS.
3. Potassium bromate
According to the Advisory Board, potassium bromate is another additive that is banned in Europe because it may cause cancer but still allowed to be added to flour and baked goods in the U.S. A request to ban potassium bromate was denied by the FDA, even though the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as a possible human carcinogen.
According to the EWG, the EU believes it may cause cancer, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment believes it’s known to cause cancer and the IARC believes it is possibly carcinogenic to humans. In 2015, the EWG’s online tool found 86 baked goods and other food products where manufacturers use potassium bromate as an ingredient. In 2023, that number has risen to 180.
In 1999, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, echoing findings in several studies, determined potassium bromate is a possible human carcinogen.
In lab tests, animals exposed to it had increased incidences of both benign and malignant tumors in the thyroid and peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. Later research found that ingesting potassium bromate resulted in significant increases in cancer of the animals’ thyroid, kidneys and other organs.
Because of these health concerns, potassium bromate is not allowed for use in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and the European Union. California requires food with potassium bromate to carry a warning label.
Even with plenty of evidence showing potassium bromate’s potential to harm human health, it’s still legal for use in food sold in the U.S.
4. Red dye No. 3
This food dye is used in many sweet candies. Yet, since the early 1980s, researchers have demonstrated that it is linked to cancer and laboratory animals and behavioral issues in children.
On Jan. 30, 1990, The New York Times reported that the FDA had banned red dye No. 3 in cosmetics, yet it continues to allow the toxic chemical to be ingested in food and drugs. Consumer advocacy groups continue to petition the FDA to remove red dye No. 3 based on its link to cancer in animal studies and hyperactivity in children.
5. Propylparaben
Propylparaben belongs to a group of chemicals widely used as artificial preservatives called parabens. The Daily Mail notes that propylparaben is often used in baking products, yet the additive has been associated with infertility in animal studies, reduced sperm count in males and as an estrogen disruptor in females.
Propylparaben is covered under the GRAS classification by the FDA. In 2019, the EWG reported that human studies from Harvard linked reduced fertility with higher levels of propylparaben in the urine. A 2021 paper reviewed the use of propylparaben, known for wide use in personal care products, drugs and food.
The researchers reviewed the available evidence from animal and human studies, during which they addressed the circular logic proponents use to suggest that because the chemical has been used for several decades it must be safe. After evaluating the data, they concluded: “Inadequate evidence has been provided for the safe use of PP [propylparaben] in food, cosmetics and consumer products.”
Read The Labels!
It's worth reading the labels. You deserve foods that will nurture you and your family, not poison and cause an accumulation of toxins that have serious negative health effects.
It's o.k to have a treat once in a while, Choose healthier alternatives.
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