The FDA depends on big corporations to review synthetic substances and grants them GRAS status (generally recognized as safe) based on the research by the manufacturers themselves.
Self-regulation!
It’s all of our roles to question this system that has become corrupted and is not, as designed, protecting the public.
Here are just a few of the controversial ingredients approved by the FDA. Plus, these ingredients have been approved so far back - we are giving you the year of approval here so you can see how outdated these are, but still being used by major brands in the food/drink market.
❌ ARTIFICIAL COLORS: Dyes derived from petroleum, linked to allergies and hyperactivity in children, which require a warning label in Europe. May also be contaminated with carcinogens, such as benzidine. (Red5 FDA approved in 1966, Red40 approved in 1971, Yellow5 FDA approved in 1969, Yellow 6 FDA approved in 1966, Blue1 approved in 1931)
❌ SODIUM NITRITE: Preservative strongly linked to cancer and heart disease. (FDA approved 2012)
❌ TBHQ: Shown to harm the immune system and to increase the risk of food allergies to nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and shellfish. (FDA approved 1972)
❌ SODIUM PHOSPHATE: Can lead to excessive levels of phosphate in the blood and puts you at risk of chronic kidney disease, increased mortality, heart disease, and accelerated aging. (FDA approved 1983)
❌ SUCRALOSE: Artificial sweetener linked to leukemia and other blood cancers. (FDA approved 1998)
❌ CARRAGEENAN: A thickener and emulsifier linked to digestive issues and cancer. (FDA approved 1961)
❌ BHA & BHT: Risky preservatives linked to cancer and banned in other countries.
❌ SODIUM & POTASSIUM BENZOATE: A synthetic preservative that when combined with either ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or erythorbic acid produces benzene, a known carcinogen. (FDA approved 1884)
❌ ASPARTAME: Artificial sweetener linked to increased risk of brain tumors, lymphomas, leukemia and heart disease. (approved in 1981)
There are other hazard chemicals you should stay away from. The best to do is to avoid mainstream brands, and always read the ingredient list. Its its too much and hard to read its likely not good for you.
We list a few of these here:
a.) Sucralose: Evidence is building that daily intake of Splenda and sucralose can trigger many potential side effects (alter glucose and insulin levels, migraine trigger, Significantly decreases beneficial gut flora, Increases diarrhea and bloating.)
b.) Titanium dioxide, and to give you some background on this one: You can find titanium dioxide in food products like candy, coffee creamer, baking and cake decorations, and white sauces. E171 is often used to give a natural whiteness and opacity to foods, helping make them better-looking.
c.) MSG: MSG has been shown to cause lesions on the brain especially in children. These lesions cause cognitive, endocrinological and emotional abnormalities. In children, excess glutamate affects the growth cones on neurons.
d.) High fructose corn syrup: Added sugars and high fructose corn syrup are considered primary causes of the overweighting of America. Weight gain abetted by high-calorie foods containing HFCS can also contribute to heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver disease and dyslipidemia, an abnormal level of cholesterol and other fats in the blood
e.) Aspartame: Aspartame has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems including learning problems, headache, seizure, migraines, irritable moods, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, wrote the researchers of a 2017 study in Nutritional Neuroscience.
f.) Caramel Color: Caramel coloring may be the most widely consumed food coloring in the world. Unfortunately, its manufacture can sometimes lead to the formation of a carcinogen called methylimidazole, which was identified as a cancer-causing chemical in 2007.
Have a look at one of our examples of a mainstream brand here:
If you are in need of some natural food coloring options - have a look at the brand supernatural. You can also use any sort of superfood to color your food, drinks and baked goods. There is no need to purchase mainstream brands of food coloring that is bad for you.
Try Supernatural food coloring
