There are so many foods out there that have preservatives in them. Preservatives can be anything from salt to chemicals. The FDA has approved of many of these preservatives, but not all. So how do you know which ones to avoid? Here is a list of the 5 most common foods that have preservatives in them, and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Breads: If your bread has a “sell by” or “use by” date on it, put it back on the shelf! That means it has the chemical Azodicarbonamide in it. This chemical was recently banned in Singapore because it was linked to respiratory illnesses and asthma.
2. Chicken: Even if you buy organic, hormone-free chicken, it likely still has white stripes because of muscle tumors caused by arsenic, which is given to chickens as a growth stimulant, according to Consumer Reports.
3. Apple Juice: Most apple juice contains arsenic as well. If you look closely at the ingredients list on apple juice boxes, you will see “ascorbic acid” or just “vitamin C” listed there and that means there is arsenic in it!
4. Microwave Popcorn: Did you know
Preservatives are substances added to foods during processing to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and delay the onset of spoilage. Examples include benzoates, sulphites, nitrates and nitrites.
Food preservatives allow food producers to increase shelf life by slowing down the rate at which food decomposes. While this has advantages for manufacturers and consumers, there are some disadvantages too. Some people may be sensitive or allergic to certain chemical preservatives in food, particularly sulphites which may cause asthmatic reactions in susceptible individuals.
Other chemical additives used in food processing include sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame), colourings (caramel, tartrazine), flavourings (monosodium glutamate), emulsifiers and stabilisers (lecithin), acidulants (citric acid) and anti-oxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).
Here is a list of our top five most likely candidates that contain food preservatives:
There are a few common and edible food preservatives which you should be aware of. These are the most commonly used preservatives and the foods they can be found in. This list is by no means exhaustive; there are many more preservatives that can be found in foods today, but these are the most common.
1. Sodium benzoate is one of the most common food preservatives. It is also known as E211 and is used to inhibit the growth of fungi and bacteria in acidic foods such as salad dressing, carbonated drinks, jams, fruit juices, pickles and condiments.
Let me ask you a question: Have you ever eaten something that was labeled as “dishwasher safe”? I’m sure the answer to that is no. You might have, however, eaten something with preservatives in it. Most people don’t realize that foods like bread or cereal have preservatives in them.
There are a few different types of preservatives, such as sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and calcium propionate. These are all commonly used in foods like bread and cheese. They’re also used in many other things that we consume every day, like toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant.
So why do they put these preservatives in food? Well, they’re trying to make our lives easier by making it last longer on the shelf.
Most people don’t even know what these preservatives are or what they do to our bodies when we eat them. They’re not very good for us because they can cause a lot of health problems over time if consumed regularly.
1. Fresh meat and poultry
Meat and poultry are filled with chemicals and preservatives to keep them from spoiling. When you buy meat, you want to know that it is as natural as possible, especially in the case of poultry, which can become contaminated with harmful bacteria (i.e., salmonella). To find chicken that is truly natural, look for the USDA-certified organic label. Meat products that are labeled as “natural” or “no preservatives added” or “hormone-free” or even “minimally processed” may still contain some chemicals and preservatives. 2. Milk and dairy products
Milk is full of preservatives to prevent it from going bad before you get a chance to drink it. The FDA allows a small amount of sodium phosphate to be added to milk sold in containers larger than 1 gallon, so avoid buying larger quantities of milk if you can’t find any that is organic or hormone-free. 3. Baked goods
Baked goods are notorious for containing artificial food colorings and dyes, which are often derived from petroleum products, and chemical preservatives such as sodium benzoate, TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone), propyl gallate and potassium brom
Strawberries Also high in salicylic acid, strawberries have a short shelf life and are often treated with benzoic acid to keep them looking fresh. Benzoic acid can be found in many food products, such as fruit juices and sausages. It is also used in the manufacture of plastics and insect repellents.
1. Breads & Baked Goods
2. Processed Meats
3. Fish, Poultry, & Meat Products
4. Microwave Popcorn, Potato Chips, & Crackers
5. Dried Fruit