The FDA says that TBHQ must not exceed 0.02 percent of its oil and fat content. Death has occurred from the ingestion of as little as 5 grams.
This would be a considerably high dose compared to the amounts found in foods, but it gives us a good indication on the toxicity level of this preservative.
At higher doses, it has some negative health effects on lab animals, such as producing precursors to stomach tumors and damage to DNA. A number of studies have shown that prolonged exposure to high doses of TBHQ may be carcinogenic, especially for stomach tumors.
Ingestion of a single gram (a thirtieth of an ounce) has caused nausea, vomiting, anaphylactic shock, diarrhea, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse. Some people have reported having anxiety and night terrors and asthma after ingesting TBHQ. Others have reported having a body rash and swollen lymph nodes.
You can find TBHQ in McDonald’s chicken McNuggets across the United States, however McDonalds European chicken nuggets do not contain the toxic preservative. This is interesting since both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the FDA have evaluated TBHQ and determined that it is safe to consume at the concentration allowed in foods. The EFSA considers TBHQ to be non-carcinogenic, so why do they not allow it in chicken mcnuggets?
Other Food Products Containing TBHQ:
· McDonalds chicken nuggets and french fries
· CHEEZ-IT Crackers made by Kelloggs
· Butterfinger chocolate and Reese’s Peanut butter cups
· Nestle Crunch
· Wheat Thins
· Microwave popcorn
· Pam cooking spray
· Aldi products
· Keebler Club crackers
· Kellogs eggo frozen waffles and many other kellog products
· Taco bell beans and some taco shells
· Teddy Grahams
· Red Barron frozen pizza
· Keebler Cookies
· TastyKake
· Little Debbie
· Kellog’s Pop-Tarts
· Homestyle Peanut butter cookies
· Some forms of soymilk
· Different breads, cereals and crackers could contain TBHQ
· Crisco oil
· Some pet foods
· Many cosmetic products and baby products
· Some hair dyes lipsticks and eyeshadows
· Wrigley’s gum
· Little Debbies nutty bars and some M&M products
· KFC beans and fried chicken
There are many more processed foods not listed above which contain TBHQ. A conclusion that is now quickly reaching vast numbers is that all processed food in general, has far too many problems to be considered safe. Our regulatory agencies are not responsibly working to resolve these problems, and instead of removing these toxins from the food supply are claiming that safe levels exist.
Since when did safe levels exist of any poison entering the body?
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