Carcinogenic Substances

A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. In 1958, New York Congressman Iames Delaney proposed, and congress enacted into law, on amendment to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that banned from food any synthetic chemical known to cause cancer (in animals or human beings) when ingested in any amount. So we should have a deeper understanding in the carcinogenic substance and be careful when choosing food. You had better check the nutrition fact of the food product before buying them.

A list of common carcinogenic substances is listed below:

  1. iron
  2. aflatoxin
  3. artificial colorings
  4. caffeine
  5. FD&C Yellow no. 3
  6. FD&C Yellow no. 6
  7. hydrogenated vegetable oil
  8. hydrogen peroxide
  9. methylene chloride
  10. saccharin
  11. nitrites
  12. nitrates

N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N


Iron

Products: in enriched baked goods, cereal products, flour, pasta, and milk.

Use: as a dietary supplement or nutritional supplement.


Aflatoxin

Products: found in corn or peanuts.

Use: a natural contaminant. Prevention of mold growth is the best protection.


Artificial colorings

Products: usually found in low nutritional, high sugar content food, candy, carbonated drinks, ice sticks, and gelatins.

Use: colorings are added when natural fruit coloring are absent. Not required to be listed on labels.


Caffeine

Products: in soft drinks (cola, orange), beverages (tea, coffee), and cocoa.

Use: as a stimulant.


FD&C Yellow No. 3

Products: in beverages, cereals, baked goods, puddings, hair coloring, and permanent hair products.

Use: as a color additive in food and dyes.


FD&C Yellow No. 6

Products: in bakery goods, cereals, cheese, confections, desserts, and ice cream.

Use: a color additive in food.


Hydrogenated vegetable oil

Products: margarine, shortening, and many processed foods.

Use: as flavoring, seasoning, cooking, and frying oil.


Hydrogen peroxide

Products: in cheese whey (annatto-colored), corn syrup, distilling materials, eggs (dried), emulsifiers containing fatty acid esters, herring, milk, packing materials, starch, tea (instant), tripe, whey, wine, and wine vinegar. Also bleaching products for skin and hair.

Use: preservative, an antiseptic, oxidizing agent, bleaching.


Methylene chloride

Products: in coffee (decaffeinated), fruits, hops extract, spice oleoresins, vegetables, adhesives, glues.

Use: for a degreasing and cleaning fluid; as a solvent for food processing. For color dye or fixative; as an extraction solvent. Not used much as a propellant anymore.


Saccharin

Products: in bacon, bakery products, beverage mixes, beverages, chewing gum, desserts, fruit juice drinks, jam, relishes, breath fresheners, and chewable vitamin tablets

Use: a nonnutritive synthetic sweetener.


Nitrites

Products: in bacon, meat (cured), meat products, smoked fish, frankfurters, bologna, and poultry products.

Use: curing agent, color fixative, preserves color, and flavor. Prevents growth of Botulism spores.


Nitrates

Products: in country hams, bacons, dried meats, and sausages.

Use: in meats as a color fixative. In matches, cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco products to keep the tobacco burning evenly.

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