You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here TOP NEWS Hidden chemicals in food that are alarming – Current scenario Monday, 11 April, 2022, 14 : 00 PM [IST] Pavitra K There is a long list of chemicals that are added to food products. These range from pesticides, added colouring, added flavouring and plastic packaging materials. If we had to go down that lane, it would be never-ending. Since we consume packaged food products daily, it is extremely essential to understand what really goes into these products. The last generation did not rely on packaged food as much as we do, today. The result of an entire generation having the capacity to buy these packaged products and survive on them is yet to see a dramatic outcome. Therefore, let us really understand what we are eating before we raise the future generation on these products. I. What are chemicals in food products? Packaged food products go through processing by equipment/machines, with the addition of other ingredients that may aid in keeping them from getting spoiled or tasting bad. While there are regulations by every government on what chemicals are allowed in food products and in what amounts, transparency is not assured at all times. There are a lot of chemicals that tend to enter our bodies, whether declared or undeclared on our food packages. These chemicals may in the long run, harm our health and well-being. For example, did you know that your favourite flavours of peppermint, fruits and vanilla also come along with carrier agents like propylene glycol and maltodextrin? These carriers, as they accumulate in your body, may have alarming side effects. Do you realise that your ready-to-drink powdered beverages can come with a lot of bulking agents, added to give weight and body to your drink? All of these chemicals are added to food products based on daily value consumption, but this does not include the other food products you would be consuming throughout the day. Everyone’s favourite snack like a pack of chips, one pack of ready-to-cook soup, one sachet of ice-tea, and you are already way over your daily consumption limit. And nobody tells you about this! II. Food products that can be harmful to you: While corn flakes may be a good breakfast choice (fast, possibly convenient), do remember to look for hidden sugars - these will come under different names like juice concentrates and malt extract. The total amount of added sugars on the back-of-pack can be a good starting point. You may see several brands packages with attractive catch lines or claims of being sugar-free, but don't fall for everything you see on the front of the pack. For all the flavoured yoghurt (Greek or otherwise) that you love to eat, do watch out for that huge list of stabilisers that are present on the ingredient information list. While these may not alarm in the amounts added, over time they tend to stick to your body and not leave your body when necessary. These could have side effects that aren't usually imagined, and by then it's too late to track the root cause. Do you understand the ingredients in your tomato ketchup?Aflatoxins, toxic chemicals produced by a fungus during the storage of peanuts, could very well enter the jar of peanut butter until the packagingSynthetic food colours used to coat your favourite candies and cream biscuits can damage the brain, leading to hyperactivity and lack of sleep.III. What other ways do chemicals enter your body via food? We live in such polluted times- air, water, soil- all of these have gone for a toss. Chemicals can enter your system through fruits and vegetables that are not properly washed or cleaned. Farmers use pesticides to keep away rodents, insects or weeds for better yields. But this has several consequences on our health- such as Alzheimer's disease and certain cancers. IV. What can you do to avoid them? Wash all fruits and vegetables brought from the market in cold water, 75–80% of pesticides on the surface of the vegetables are removed through this process, or you can dunk the veggies in 2% of saltwater or vinegar for 20 minutes. A more permanent solution is the need to have sustainable and clean farming practices where we can track the source of produce to the farm, via contract farming. While science has not been able to give us a clear answer on the safety of these chemicals, we should look at being safe and away from them until we are certain. When it comes to packaged food products- read ingredients carefully, and understand what suits your body and lifestyle. If you are unclear about any ingredient, reach out to the brand for further clarity. But, the best way to avoid them is to slowly shift your diet. You can start by moving from regular cornflakes to wheat flakes, bajra flakes or jowar flakes. You could switch from the overly sugar-loaded honey to raw honey that is unpasteurised and unprocessed. Small changes go a long way! V. Brands to rely on Now you’d be wondering, where I should go, what I should eat, and what products should I choose if everything has chemicals in them. Well, the solution for fresh fruits and vegetables is mentioned above but for packaged food that we tend to rely a lot on- there is only one solution - Clean Label certified brands. Clean Label Project is a non-profit organisation based in the United States of America that conducts strict tests on products for chemical residues. This ensures the ingredients of the products are as close to their natural form as possible, thereby, reducing contamination of external or hazardous remnants. Purchasing food products, although packaged, are much safer when they have a Clean Label certification. There are several brands in the Indian market that are Clean Label certified and can also provide proof of their claim of being clean and honest through traceability tools. A traceability tool helps you track ingredient information right from the source. It proves information on quality checks and processes the product goes through in the minutest detail. By choosing such brands, you can be assured that the food you eat is safe. (The author is lead research scientist, True Elements)   This page allows you to send the current page to your friend. Your Friends Email ID: Your Email ID: Post Your Comment * Name :     *  Email :       Website :   Comments :           Captcha :  

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