Written by admin on 2009-04-20T12:57:27+0000">April 20, 2009 – 12:57 pm
Synthetic chemicals in food and water
This appendix summarizes the main groups of synthetic chemicals to be found in our food and drinking water. The general comments on safety and toxicity refer to the ‘average’ healthy person, rather than someone who is unduly sensitive to one or more synthetic chemicals.
FOOD ADDITIVES
About 3,500 additives are in use, but not all of these are synthetic compounds. Some are natural products, or synthetic versions of natural chemicals, although this may not mean that they are things we would normally eat. On average, each person in Britain eats 4.5 kg (10-11 lb.) dry weight of additives each year. This is ten times the amount used 30 years ago, but only half the amount eaten by the average American. Those who eat a lot of packaged, processed or take-away foods may eat twice the average amount or more. Children, in particular, have a very high intake because many of the manufactured foods that appeal to them are rich in additives.
Most foods and drinks have to be labelled, with all additives (apart from flavourings) listed. Certain items are exempt: wine, beer and other alcoholic drinks, and any food or drink served in cafes and restaurants. Food that is sold unwrapped does not have to be labelled either, including bread, cheese, pate and similar foods, sausages.bacon, cakes and confectionery. All these are likely to contain additives. Dried fruit is usually treated with sulphur dioxide, but this may not appear on the label – fruit that has not been treated is usually labelled ‘unsulphured’.
Even with labelled food, manufacturers only have to list those additives which they themselves have put in – for example a packet, of crisps may be labelled ‘potatoes, vegetable oil and salt’ but the oil may have contained an antioxidant, such as BHT. Because the crisp manufacturer bought the oil with BHT already added, he does not have to include it on the label.
Another source of ‘hidden additives’ is medicinal drugs. They may contain colours, preservatives and anti-oxidants. These do not have to be declared on the label, and some people have reacted adversely to the additives in drugs, particularly the colourings. Azo-dyes are among the most troublesome additives, in terms of the numbers of cases of sensitivity reported, yet these are widely used in medicines, particularly in syrups given to children.
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