Chemical Additives

Most of us have hundreds of products in our pantries at home that are pre-packaged and processed. I’m sure foods like cereals, frozen dinners, canned soups, breads and pastries are all commonly found in the average American household. But do you REALLY know what you’re eating? Have you ever looked at the ingredient lists? 

There are words found on food labels that I can’t even pronounce. My mom has a rule of thumb that goes “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it!” I’ve taken it a step further and I don’t eat additives or preservatives that I CAN pronounce if know the risks and side effects. I read up on my “Eat This! Not That!: Supermarket Survival Guide” food additive dictionary section just out of pure curiosity about what additives are harmless (Such as Maltodextrin and Absorbic Acid) and which ones should be consumed as minimally as possible (Such as BHT and monosodium glutamate) 

To my surprise, dangerous additives are found in a majority of foods on the shelves at grocery stores. Something may be marketed as “diet” or “healthy” but when looking at the actual ingredients, these so called “healthy” options are literally toxic to the body. Many food additives that are legal in America are banned in many other countries all over the world. Why are they allowed in America? If additives run the risk of causing cancer, ADHD/hyperactivity of the brain, metabolic dysfunction while also contributing to obesity and addiction, why is the USDA allowing these chemicals to be put into these foods? I understand that food companies aren’t about the safety and health status of the general public. They’re all about money, marketing and profit. I feel that stricter rules and regulations on chemical additives should be put in place for the sake of the public. If that isn’t achievable or realistic enough , he least the government could do is put warnings on food labels for products with potentially harmful ingredients.