It seems that food in America, especially the cheap, non-perishable kind that tends to stock college pantries, is filled with all sorts of chemicals, preservatives, and additives. While it's easy to feel terrible about this and try to avoid processed food altogether, it turns out a lot of what goes into our food is (surprise!) actually totally fine and occurs naturally in food all the time. Some of it is bad, but not all. Here's a breakdown of some of the most common chemicals in American food and how they can affect your body:
1. Artificial Dyes
Found in: Drinks, condiments and (probably) anything brightly colored
Danger level: Low
Artificial dyes are used to give food and drink products distinctive colors (think Blue No. 2, Yellow No. 5, etc.). Many of these were outlawed throughout the twentieth century due to cancer-causing tendencies. However, the FDA has narrowed things down to 10 food dyes that are allowed and supposedly safe, four of which can only be used in very specific situations (Orange B, for example, can only be used in hot dog/sausage casings).
2. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Found in: Several kinds of processed foods; naturally occurs in tomatoes and soybeans
Danger level: Low
MSG is pretty common in processed foods, although it's sometimes hard to find on the label due to its presence in other ingredients like "hydrolyzed soy protein" and "autolyzed yeast." MSG is a naturally occurring substance, so there's not much risk involved, even in high amounts. However, some people are allegedly allergic to the substance and have strong reactions. If you seem to have a bad reaction to Chinese food (which typically contains a lot of naturally-occurring MSG in soy sauces), you might want to stay away from this. Otherwise, it's probably fine.
3. Sodium Benzoate
Found in: Several kinds of processed foods and drinks
Danger level: Moderate
Sodium benzoate allegedly increases hyperactivity in some children, and a few studies have backed this up. The most alarming thing about sodium benzoate, though, is its use in drinks: apparently, the FDA found that sodium benzoate can react with added vitamin C to create benzene, a known carcinogen. Be careful with this one, especially in beverages.
4. Sodium Nitrite
Found in: Preserved meat products, like sausage, SPAM, and others
Danger level: Moderate
There is substantial evidence that sodium nitrite causes gastric cancer. Gastric cancer was the most commonly lethal form of cancer in America up until the 1930s, when refrigeration became the norm and people began eating fewer canned meats. The jury is still out on this one, though, and scientists are far from a consensus. Thankfully, its use has become less and less common.
5. Butylated Hydroxene (BHT)
Found in: Beer, crackers, cereal, and others
Danger level: High
BHT has been shown to cause cancer in lab animals in several studies and has been classified as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."
6. Titanium Dioxide
Found in: Salad dressing, icing, coffee creamers, and others
Danger level: Low
Not a whole lot of adverse side effects have been positively linked with titanium dioxide, but sometimes it's contaminated with lead. However, by itself it seems fine so far.
7. Trans Fat
Found in: Deep-fried or baked foods
Danger level: High
In recent years, the scientific community has pretty much come to an agreement that trans fats are bad for health. They've been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain, among others. Food manufacturers are required to list the levels of trans fats on Nutrition Facts labels. However, serving sizes can be manipulated so there's less than one gram of trans fats in a serving, which allows them to round down to zero. Check the ingredients: if it has "partially hydrogenated oil," it has at least some amount of trans fats. The FDA has moved to ban trans fats from food within the next three years, but as it's slowly being phased out you'll still have to watch for it.
All in all, be careful with what you put in your body. If you're super worried about the foods you're consuming, be sure to take the time and do your research. The chemicals listed here are only a few that pop up regularly in processed foods, so be prepared for some unexpected names as well. Research on these is still ongoing and cases are rarely closed, so be sure to stay updated with the latest FDA regulations.
