“Food manufacturers are shamelessly tricking consumers who are trying to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains,” said CSPI Director of Legal Affairs, Bruce Silverglade. “Too many processed foods contain only token amounts of the healthful ingredients highlighted on labels and are typically loaded with fats, refined sugars, refined flour, and salt, in various combinations.”
Which are the toxins?
The food colorings that make candy pretty colors have been linked to cancer and tumors of the brain, thyroid, adrenal gland, and kidneys in animal studies.
Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages, and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy, and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice.
Red 3 is a food coloring used in cherries (fruit cocktails), baked goods, and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, which means it may do so in humans as well.
Yellow 6 is the third most often used food coloring, and is found in many products, including backed goods, candy, gelatin, and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens. M&Ms anyone?
Food preservatives and additives.
Propyl gallate is used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling and might cause cancer. It is used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks, chicken soup base, chewing gum, and is often used with BHA and BHT.
BHA and BHT—butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)—are also used to keep fats and oils from going rancid. It’s often used in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil, and potato chips, and can also be found in some food packaging to preserve freshness.
Potassium bromate is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and produce the fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes cancer in animal studies. Bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer warning would likely be required if it were used, which is why it rarely is in that state.
