Check out today's YNH Exclusive that starts out with some important news and also dives into dangerous food additives!
Contents:
The United States Food and Drug Administration is expected to officially ban brominated vegetable oil (BVO) soon after proposing the ban in November 2023. BVO is a chemical primarily used in sodas, as the added bromine creates a denser oil that stops citrus flavoring agents from floating to the surface of fizzy drinks. Countries all over the world, such as Japan, India, and all of the European Union, have already outlawed the chemical after recent studies brought its possibly harmful effects to light, which is why Mountain Dew and Fresca are not sold in the EU. BVO has been used in drinks since the 1920s, and the FDA originally placed the chemical on its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list. However, scientists knew that bromine is a huge factor in iodine deficiency, as it can prevent iodine from helping the thyroid create hormones that help with metabolism, which is why they urged the FDA to look further into the safety of BVO. Since the FDA didn't have enough data to justify the restriction of BVO, they limited the level of the chemical in drinks to 15 parts per million while they conducted long-term studies. After years of studies on animals, they concluded that the amount of bromine in BVO can be harmful to the thyroid, liver, and heart, and it can also cause neurological and developmental issues in the brain. Following these studies, the FDA considered banning it, but California got there first. In October 2022, California banned the usage of BVO in any food or drink, along with three other food additives, but it would only take effect by 2027. On the other hand, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Co have been phasing BVO out for a while, and the chemical is not included in any of their drinks anymore. Many companies still use it, though, and it can have serious effects on the body. The FDA is expected to make the official announcement after their review process, but in the meantime, make sure to stay away from any drinks containing brominated vegetable oil!
On a separate but related note, make sure to also stay away from the other three food additives that California has banned. As previously mentioned, in October 2022, California introduced the California Food Safety Act, which will fine the maker of any consumable item containing brominated vegetable oil, Red 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben starting January 1, 2027.
Red 3, also known as erythrosine, is present in over 2,900 food products and is primarily made of petroleum. Some notable foods that contain Red 3 are pink Peeps, various red candies, and maraschino cherries. The chemical is known to cause numerous detrimental health effects, most notably increased chances of cancer, hyperactivity, and neurological issues in children. The latter is also very concerning considering that according to various studies, young children consume over twice as much Red 3 as the general population. Along with Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, Red 3 has been confirmed as a dangerous carcinogen, and is banned in the EU, Japan, China, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, but not by the FDA.
Potassium bromate is also known to be a carcinogen, leading to kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancer in animals who have been studied. It is primarily used in baked goods like breads, bagels, and pastries, and the additive is banned in the EU, China, and India.
Lastly, propylparaben is generally used in cosmetics, but is also a food additive in various foods, including desserts like muffins and cookies. In animal testing, it was found to cause reproductive issues and disruption of the endocrine system, but the effects of propylparaben are much less harmful than the effects of other additives like Red 3.
If you find any of these chemicals in any of your foods, make sure to stay away from them, as these additives can lead to long-lasting effects that could plague your body for life.
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