The Untold Truth About Food Additives
By Luci Bialek, ‘24
States are working to ban dangerous dyes and food additives. Many food additives are not researched well enough to be able to be labeled as safe. Much more time and research has to be conducted to prove that it is safe. There are hundreds of additives that are approved by the US yearly, many of which are banned in Europe. The FDA does not do diligent research to be able to tell if chemicals are safe for consumption.
Some people may say that food additives are necessary for keeping food safe and in good conditions. It's stated that food additives are there to keep the food safe and healthy, this makes someone feel safe about what we are ingesting. But in reality the authoritative bodies that research the safety of these foods don't know much about the additives either. They are pushed to work through many new chemicals in a short period of time so they cannot sufficiently research the potential harmful effects. The FDA’s deputy commissioner for food does not vouch for the information they have learned about additives and cannot make correct claims on the safety of it.
There is not enough information to accurately tell if a chemical is safe for consumption. So many chemicals are still unknown, "We simply do not have the information to vouch for the safety of many of these chemicals," said (Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for food), the chemicals and additives that are put into our food are not researched enough. Even the deputy commissioner for food can't stand behind the safety of research for the chemicals “The explosion of new food additives coupled with an easing of oversight requirements is allowing manufacturers to avoid the scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration” There are so many new chemicals that are being added into our food that the organizations that control them cannot keep up with the safety of the chemicals and there is little knowledge for if the chemicals are harmful. There have been many studies done on the frequent additives and how food additives affect the body. Although some additives leave the body quickly, they linger in the environment, and “It has been found in the urine of all Americans tested. While it leaves the body quickly, perchlorate persists in the environment for many years”. There are still reasons to avoid these chemicals even if they leave the body quickly. There is almost no research on how this affects people even after it leaves the body. It continues to have a lasting effect even if it's not in our bodies. “it's not just potassium bromate. A range of other chemicals and substances banned in Europe over health concerns are also permitted in the U.S.” This makes me reconsider how healthy of a diet we are eating in the US. Other countries who have bans on chemicals the US has permitted it in large quantities with little to no research.
Currently the Environmental Working Group is helping to create legislation in multiple states as they have come to understand the insufficient research being done by FDA. Christopher Ginlesperger, at the National Confectioners Association, says, “States usurping FDA’s authority does nothing but create a patchwork of inconsistent requirements that increase food costs, create confusion around food safety, and erode consumer confidence”. Consumers need to become aware of what we are eating and how it is affecting us. Calling attention to state legislators for certain chemicals to be banned so we can work to a healthier diet.
The FDA is not doing enough to research the chemicals being added to all foods. It is imperative that we become aware of this issue and show concern for how detrimental it is to our health. European countries have given us a pathway of what we should be concerned about. This can help us learn to correct our mistakes and make a healthier country.
Works Cited
Consumer Reports. www.consumerreports.org/health/food-additives/dangerous-dyes-and-food-additives-states-want-to-ban-a3953720328/. Accessed 1 May 2024.
National Library of Medicine. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5737876/. Accessed 1 May 2024.
Washington Post. www.washingtonpost.com/national/food-additives-on-the-rise-as-fda-scrutiny-wanes/2014/08/17/828e9bf8-1cb2-11e4-ab7b-696c295ddfd1_story.html. Accessed 1 May 2024.
World Health Organization. www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-additives#:~:text=Additives%20are%20added%20to%20ensure,%2C%20smell%2C%20texture%20and%20appearance. Accessed 1 May 2024.