Many big food corporations sell their products all over the world and their ingredients vary from country to country depending on
different regulations.
In the United States, you’ll find many toxic ingredients that have been banned in other countries.
That needs to change as U.S. food corporations use a variety of artificial flavors and additives that are harmful when consumed.
There’s no excuse for allowing toxic ingredients to be used in our food and it’s up to the U.S. government to hold these corporations accountable.
One of the most common additives in American food is artificial dyes, such as red 40, yellow 6 and yellow 5.
Most artificial food dyes are derived from petroleum and can be found in food items including cereal, ice cream and sports drinks.
Petroleum is a fossil fuel that is used in a variety of products such as gasoline and asphalt, according to a National Geographic encyclopedia entry.
These dyes have been linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other behavioral effects in children, according to an April 29, 2020 Healthline article.
The article said these additives can cause ADHD because of how they alter childrens’ brain chemistry and deplete their bodies of minerals that are necessary for development, such as zinc.
Studies have shown restricting this dye from children’s diets significantly helped improve their ADHD symptoms.
The use of these dyes has been restricted in Europe because of scientific evidence that the dyes are harmful to children, according to an
Oct. 9, 2019 Stacker article.
The dyes are completely banned in Austria and Norway and the U.S. needs to follow suit to protect our children’s health.
Potassium bromate is another common additive found in many dough products.
Potassium bromate is a powerful oxidizing agent that is used to chemically age flour to make bread rise quicker and more evenly, according to a May 30, 2013 Live Science article.
Though an effective leavening agent, potassium bromate is also known to cause cancer in rats and is thought to be carcinogenic to humans, according to a New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services fact sheet.
Scientists believe there may be no safe level of exposure to potassium bromate, according to the fact sheet.
It is so toxic that it has been banned throughout the European Union, Canada, Argentina, South Korea and many other countries.
By continuing to allow these chemicals to be put into our food, our government is consenting to poisoning its people.
Additives including artificial dyes and potassium bromate are used so frequently because they make food cheaper and easier to produce.
While efficiency is important to any business, it should never come at the cost of health and safety.
Corporations are taking advantage of this country’s loose regulations and are poisoning Americans for profit.
This issue continues to perpetuate because food corporations are allowed to lobby for their own interests.
Lobbyists are allowed to have a say in what the Food and Drug Administration approves as “safe” for human consumption, according to an April 16, 2020 article on 100 Days of Real Food, a blog on mindful eating.
The U.S. claims to be one of the best countries in the world, yet it’s behind several countries when it comes to food safety policies.
The government must update restrictions on harmful food additives and ban the food industry from lobbying its interests to protect Americans.
