Ammonium hydroxide –an ingredient in fertilizers, household cleaners and some roll-your-own explosives– a common chemical used in the production of hamburgers and has recently been reported by MSNBC by M. Alex Johnson that as of August 2011 McDonalds is no longer using the controversial chemical used to preserve otherwise uneatable ground hamburger meat.
You may remember Jamie Oliver a celebrity chef incredible television show Food Revolution—currently has a petition where he is seeking 1 million global petitioners to join with him in transforming what schools feed our children; challenging school cafeterias across the country to transform menu items and help stop childhood obesity. Astonished to learn all of the so-called healthy processed chemically infested foods America feeds her children, he shed light on an otherwise quiet acceptable abusive food system in our schools and served on our tables any given weekday.
McDonald’s announcement is making headlines however here is a list of other wonderful chemicals being used in the production of some of our most-popular foods:
Propylene glycol: This chemical is very similar to ethylene glycol, a dangerous anti-freeze. This less-toxic cousin prevents products from becoming too solid. Some ice creams have this ingredient; otherwise you'd be eating ice.
Carmine: Commonly found in red food coloring, this chemical comes from crushed cochineal, small red beetles that burrow into cacti. Husks of the beetle are ground up and forms the basis for red coloring found in foods ranging from cranberry juice to M&Ms.
Shellac: Yes, this chemical used to finish wood products also gives some candies their sheen. It comes from the female Lac beetle.
L-cycsteine: This common dough enhancer comes from hair, feathers, hooves and bristles.
Lanolin (gum base): Next time you chew on gum, remember this. The goopiness of gum comes from lanolin, oils from sheep's wool that is also used for vitamin D3 supplements.
Silicon dioxide: Nothing weird about eating sand, right? This anti-caking agent is found in many foods including shredded cheese and fast food chili.
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