Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Blog Action Day - Food Additives #BAD1

Because I'm not convinced they are completely safe, I was going to comment on several different additives in our food, like: monosodium glutamate, propylene glycol, artificial colors and flavors.


But I got stuck on just one.


Polysorbate 80. Brand names include Alkest, Canarcel and Tween.
Tween
Picture take from Arrow Chemicals Company



From Suite 101.com I got this: According to Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Volume 95, Number 6, December 2005 , pp. 593-599(7), "it is of current relevance as a 'hidden' inductor of anaphylactoid reactions", and "Polysorbate 80 was identified as the causative agent for the anaphylactoid reaction of nonimmunologic origin in the patient. Conclusions: Polysorbate 80 is a ubiquitously used solubilizing agent that can cause severe nonimmunologic anaphylactoid reactions."


Put in plain English, polysorbate 80 can affect your immune system and cause severe anaphylactic shock which can kill.
Read more at Suite101: Polysorbate 80 Causes Infertility: An Emulsifier That Can Damage Your Reproductive Health | Suite101.com http://joanna-karpasea-jones.suite101.com/polysorbate-80-causes-infertility-a60320#ixzz1aZP6Whbq



Polysorbate 80 is used in (to name just a few things): ice cream and other milk products, some medications and vaccines (flue shots), lotions, creams, toothpaste, batteries, paints and adhesives. 


Polysorbate 80 may be harmful to people, like me, who have Crohn's disease.


Click HERE for a list of possible side effects and allergic reactions.


And HERE, at the FDA, is a list of the many different kinds of food additives, the good, the bad AND the ugly.


Over the years I have learned to read labels. I say whenever possible go natural, go organic. 

11 comments:

  1. I don't pay too much attention to food labels, but it is a bit scary what is put in food and we don't really know what it all does or is for.

    Thanks for giving me the heads up on this blog event. I have been planning to start a new Sunday only blog based on verses from Psalms. World Food Day is an apt event to make my debut.

    Lee
    A Few Words

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  2. It's a good reminder to check labels. I do check some but I don't think to look at dairy products, or medicines.

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  3. I've tried to be organic for several years now, but it's hard.
    Too many good things to eat, especially when you're a chocolate freak.

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  4. Yikes, I had no idea! Thanks for the info, Bish. Hope you're having a great weekend!

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  5. I didn't know you had Crohn's.
    We don't eat canned food anymore since it seemed the worst for additives.

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  6. jumped over from BAD11...

    def have to watch what goes into what we are eating as that can quickly change something healthy to something other wise...

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  7. If I can't pronounce it, I pretty much think I don't want to eat it.

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  8. A dear friend has Crohn's Disease. It's not fun. Sorry to hear you have to deal with it. Stopped by from Lynn's and saw that you were a #BAD11 participant. I was too. Excellent choice and I'll try to be on the lookout for this additive. (there are so many aren't there??)

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  9. I hate buying anything with a long list of peculiar sounding ingredients. If I'm buying ice cream, for instance, I want cream, milk, cane sugar and a natural flavor, such as vanilla bean or cocoa. Simple and pure, please.
    Good post.

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  10. I totally agree with you. When I discovered that a certain additive made me breathless, I started reading the labels and avoiding certain numbers in particular.

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  11. I've been reading labels for years. So I've avoided a lot of icky stuff -- then too, there's plenty of it that I've ingested.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!