There are more and more reasons to learn to bake, you can control what's in your food. A chemical compound used in synthetic leathers called azodicarbonamide or ADA is commonly used in baked goods from bagels, breads to pizza crusts and danishes—sold under 130 brand names that still contain ADA as a "dough conditioner" according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
According to the report; “This industrial plastics chemical shows up in many commercial baked goods as a dough conditioner" that renders large batches of dough easier to handle. Another benefit is it makes the finished products puffier and tough enough to withstand shipping and storage. According to the new EWG; " The Food Database of Ingredients of 80,000 foods, ADA turns up in nearly 500 items and in more than 130 brands of bread, bread stuffing and snacks, including many advertised as ‘healthy',” the report reads.
Subway, made headlines earlier this month when it announced it would no longer be including the compound as a "dough conditioner" in their breads. That is a first step, but there are roughly 130 other companies that mass produce and sell a variety of baked goods that contain ADA. The EWG report claims, these are some of the brands the chemical is still present; Ball Park, Butternut, Country Hearth, Fleischman’s, Food Club, Harvest Pride, Healthy Life, Jimmy Dean, Joseph Campione, Kroger, Little Debbie, Mariano’s, Marie Callendar’s, Martin’s, Mother’s, Nature’s Own, Pillsbury, Roman Meal, Sara Lee, Schmidt, Shoprite, Safeway, Smucker’s, Sunbeam, Turano, Tyson, Village Hearth and Wonder.
The FDA approved the chemical compound as being safe-in-moderation for foods meant for human consumption back in 1962. Another dough conditioner potassium bromate was banned in 1987, and since then there has been an increase use of ADA. Despite being cleared as safe by the FDA, the World Health Organization has gone on the record to say that epidemiological studies in humans and animals alike have produced "abundant evidence that azodicarbonamide can induce asthma, other respiratory symptoms and skin sensitization". ADA is not approved for use in either Australia or the European Union.
I truly believe you have to cook in order to control what you eat. I know baking is a lost art and meal preparation is something most of us don't enjoy. If you cook one day and make all your meals for the week it will not only save you time and money, but it could save your life.
Sources
Plastic chemical found in nearly 500 foods sold in US (Feb 28th 2014)
Bloomberg Businessweek, Venessa Wong
According to the report; “This industrial plastics chemical shows up in many commercial baked goods as a dough conditioner" that renders large batches of dough easier to handle. Another benefit is it makes the finished products puffier and tough enough to withstand shipping and storage. According to the new EWG; " The Food Database of Ingredients of 80,000 foods, ADA turns up in nearly 500 items and in more than 130 brands of bread, bread stuffing and snacks, including many advertised as ‘healthy',” the report reads.
Subway, made headlines earlier this month when it announced it would no longer be including the compound as a "dough conditioner" in their breads. That is a first step, but there are roughly 130 other companies that mass produce and sell a variety of baked goods that contain ADA. The EWG report claims, these are some of the brands the chemical is still present; Ball Park, Butternut, Country Hearth, Fleischman’s, Food Club, Harvest Pride, Healthy Life, Jimmy Dean, Joseph Campione, Kroger, Little Debbie, Mariano’s, Marie Callendar’s, Martin’s, Mother’s, Nature’s Own, Pillsbury, Roman Meal, Sara Lee, Schmidt, Shoprite, Safeway, Smucker’s, Sunbeam, Turano, Tyson, Village Hearth and Wonder.
The FDA approved the chemical compound as being safe-in-moderation for foods meant for human consumption back in 1962. Another dough conditioner potassium bromate was banned in 1987, and since then there has been an increase use of ADA. Despite being cleared as safe by the FDA, the World Health Organization has gone on the record to say that epidemiological studies in humans and animals alike have produced "abundant evidence that azodicarbonamide can induce asthma, other respiratory symptoms and skin sensitization". ADA is not approved for use in either Australia or the European Union.
I truly believe you have to cook in order to control what you eat. I know baking is a lost art and meal preparation is something most of us don't enjoy. If you cook one day and make all your meals for the week it will not only save you time and money, but it could save your life.
Sources
Plastic chemical found in nearly 500 foods sold in US (Feb 28th 2014)
Bloomberg Businessweek, Venessa Wong
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