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Tag Archives: Chemical substance

Raising Our Food Consciousness

18 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by periwinkleporte in environment

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Chemical substance, Environment, Factory farming, Fast food, Garden

I have to confess that I rarely look at the news online, but this headline caught my eye recently: What’s really in your food? 

This article exposes the additives to our food that are the most obvious or have gotten the most press; I assume there are likely countless artificial ingredients that are added and we’re unknowingly consuming in our food. Can we avoid any/all of these chemicals, additives and ingredients in our search for nutritious, healthy foods? It may be impossible but my gut tells me that knowing where our food comes from is a key. Local—as in seeing it actually grown in front of your very own eyes. Local—as in supporting CSA’s and frequenting Farmer’s Markets. Local—as in asking for locally grown produce in your supermarket. It’s all about taking the initiative to speak up and ask questions.

Below are the ten listed—click on this link to read more details, how they’re used and the justification as to why they’re in play.

rBGH and rBST

Milk from cows treated with rBGH has a significant increase of the hormone insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), linked to breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. And rBGH and rBST can also show up in products like sour cream made with hormone-induced cow’s milk.
Where it’s banned: Australia, New Zealand, Israel, EU and Canada

BHA and BHT

BHA and BHT are widely used preservatives that prevent oils in foods from becoming rancid. Per the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, BHA “is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen …..” BHA is also suspected of triggering allergic reactions and hyperactivity.
Where it’s banned: The UK doesn’t allow BHA in infant foods. BHA and BHT are also banned in parts of the European Union and Japan.

Olestra/Olean

Fat substitute found in fat-free chips and fries; several reports tell of adverse intestinal reactions including diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels. Because it interferes with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, the FDA requires these vitamins be added to any product made with Olean or olestra.
Where it’s banned: The UK and Canada

Potassium Bromate 

Added to breads to help the dough hold together and rise higher, studies have linked this additive to kidney damage and tumors, cancer and damage to the nervous system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies potassium bromate as carcinogen possibly cancerous to humans. Ironically, it’s approved by the FDA for use in the malting of barley.
Where it’s banned: Canada, China and the EU

Arsenic

Notoriously poisonous, and a known carcinogen, arsenic has routinely been fed to chickens raised in the U.S. for decades to increase poultry’s weight while requiring less feed.
Where it’s banned: The European Union

Colors and dyes

Boxed mac and cheese, cheddar flavored crackers, Jell-O and many kids’ cereals contain red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6 and/or blue 2, the most popularly-used dyes in the United States. Research has shown they can cause behavioral problems as well as cancer, birth defects and other health problems in lab animals. Red 40 and yellow 6 are also suspected of causing an allergy-like hypersensitivity reaction in children. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reports that some dyes are also “contaminated with known carcinogens.”
Where it’s banned: Norway and Austria. And in 2009 the British government advised companies to stop using food dyes by the end of that year. The European Union also requires a warning notice on most foods containing dyes.

Brominated Vegetable Oil — BVO

According to the Mayo Clinic, bromine can accumulate in fatty tissues; linked to trouble with thyroid function and may affect the nervous system causing tremors, depression, and confusion. The FDA has flip-flopped on BVO’s safety originally classifying it as “generally recognized as safe” but reversing that call now defining it as an “interim food additive” a category reserved for possibly questionable substances used in food.
Where it’s banned: Europe and Japan

Doped Up Meat

Linked to hyperactivity, muscle corrosion and adverse effects on the cardiovascular system in humans. Some studies show that it can cause chromosomal abnormalities and behavioral changes.
Fed to cows and pigs to increase muscle mass, it is also one of the few fed to animals in the last days before slaughter (to increase its effectiveness). Experts speculate as much as 20 percent of the drug can be present in meat consumer’s purchase from their local grocer.
Where it’s banned: Europe, Russia, Mainland China & Republic of China (Taiwan)

Hawaiian Papaya

One of the largest crops from the Big Island is genetically engineered, a move supported by the U.S. government. On Wednesday, June 19, 2013, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States supports the use of biotechnology to develop “smart” crops that can withstand disease, droughts and floods. Numerous studies have found animals fed genetically engineered foods suffered intestinal damage, bleeding ulcers, kidney and liver disease, and a host of other health maladies.
Where it’s banned: The EU, which does not tolerate genetically engineered papaya

Farm-Raised Salmon 

These salmon are being fed canthaxanthin, a chemical that perks up the trademark pinkish-orange color. Some studies have shown that a high intake can lead to pigments collecting in the retina, potentially damaging eyesight.
Where it’s banned: Australia and New Zealand

I’d like to hear if anyone has other ideas as we pursue safer, healthy foods for our families. Please share them with us.

—Debbie Hindman

Formaldehyde, Part One

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by periwinkleporte in design, environment

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Tags

Allergy, Chemical substance, Formaldehyde, Sustainable Residential Interiors

Am I Sick? Or Am I Having An Allergic Reaction?

Coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes or skin, headache, nausea; these are common symptoms we have all experienced at some time. Common enough that we may assume we’re fighting a cold or infection, or that we’ve brushed against poison ivy or been nipped by an insect, or simply that something “didn’t agree with us”. However, did you know these can also be symptoms of an allergic reaction to something in our environs?

KitchenAssociates III has focused on sourcing healthy materials for homes that are green or sustainable for a long time. Good information hasn’t always been available, so we’ve used our intuition and worked closely with fabricators to specify custom pieces that are inert and safe. That’s been a tall order at times, particularly when working with someone who is not exactly sure what they are reacting to.  Many chemically sensitive people have a general feeling of lethargy or malaise; their immune systems are compromised to such a degree that any little thing can lead to a full blown system shut down. It makes it all the more difficult for doctors to diagnose, let alone remedy.

Numerous things can trigger an allergic reaction.  Many are organic or natural in our world, such as pollen, mold or dust mites. Others may be chemical based, innocuous or brief, but enough exposure over time can cause toxins to build up in our systems, whether organic or chemical, creating long term or permanent damage.

Symptoms When Exposed to Formaldehyde

We don’t pretend to be scientists but while completing research for our book Sustainable Residential Interiors, we looked into some of the key offenders.  We found that one of the more commonly used compounds in the home construction industry is formaldehyde. Reactions range from mild to severe, depending on the exposure level, and you can feel irritation in your eyes, nose and throat initially, coughing and a raw throat can develop, and you may even have trouble breathing. Chronic exposure can lead to respiratory damage and severe skin damage such as welts and burns. There is also evidence that constant exposure may lead to forms of cancer and death.

Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household products and the use of un-vented, fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. Formaldehyde, by itself or in combination with other chemicals, serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. For example, it is used to add permanent-press qualities to clothing and draperies, as a component of glues and adhesives, and as a preservative in some paints and coating products.

Why some people react more to formaldehyde, or any substance, is not clear but my concern is that the numbers are growing as we use such chemicals to produce further items. It can’t be good.

— Debbie Hindman

Next time — What is Formaldehyde and how do I avoid using it in my home?

Resources:

ACAAI — The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: www.acaai.org

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