Non-labeled Food Additives

[tikitavi]

I was just reading a story on "pink slime" in the Wall Street Journal. ("Pink slime" is a term used for ammonia-treated meat scraps with no nutritional value, which have been added without labeling to ground beef and other beef products until recent media coverage).

One of the comments linked to this .pdf which lists US food additives to meat, poultry and egg products which are not required to be listed on the label. All I can say is - WOW!!! No wonder I have had reactions to what I thought was "plain" meat!!

www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/7120.1.pdf

For example, guar and xanthan gums, powdered cellulose, ammonia, various acids, hydrogen peroxide, Alkyl polyglycosides, "a mixture of water, glycerin, carageenan, cornstarch", various calcium, potassium sodium and chlorine compounds, annatto powder, "lauramide arginine ethyl ester", DBDMH (1,3-dibromo 5,5-dimethylhydantoin), aqueous solutions containing propylene glycol - all of these additives do not have to be labelled!

This is crazy!!!

[ukbill]

Very true..

Back in the 18th and 19th century it was common to put lead oxide (a white pigment and highly toxic) into white flour to make it look much whiter than the competitors flour..

Little wonder people who lived in the country and could not afford these things were far healthier than their city brethren.

Lady's makeup also was made from white lead and mercuric compounds (bright red) in some countries they still are..

Lead compounds were used a lot in paints and it is not 5 years since a lot of children's toys made in China were found to have potentially lethal levels of lead in the paint.

Some habits die hard. particularly where a quick profit is involved.

[colormist]

Fiesta pottery designed this bright orange glaze that sold like hotcakes in the US.



Later they discovered that the orange glaze was made from uranium and had to pull the products from the shelves. Radioactive dishware! They keep trying to recreate that color of glaze, but all other shades pale in comparison.

[charlie]

Now, that really is a worrying discovery, I bet they panicked. Look out for glowing Americans!!!!

I think it is a bit too bright for my kitchen!

[ukbill]

Charlie please do not show that colour to Megan.. the FM site is colourful enough

[charlie]

Ha, ha, actually, you will find it is slightly toned down now. Not due to any complaints about Megs colour scheme but because we have decided to do a colour code on our recipes as tolerance levels are do different and the white background works better for that.

Must say the colour palette for setting these pages up is god-awful to use which is why it ended up so bright in the first place as I lost the will in the end.......!!!!!!!

But on second thoughts, Megan where are you, Bill has suggested this colour to you.......... As we are on a noodle day, maybe not........