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Food additives have been used for thousands of years since it was realized that salt prevents meat from spoiling. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved more than 10,000 additives to preserve, package, or modify the taste, appearance, texture, or nutritional content of foods. But there is growing evidence that certain chemicals used as food additives should be avoided – especially for children.
How do food additives affect children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) notes that a growing body of research suggests that some food additives may interfere with hormones, growth and development, and some may also increase the risk of childhood obesity. Listed below are the most commonly used food additives and the health problems they cause.
How can children be reduced from exposure to food additives?
Buy fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. Buy fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Image source: Visual China
Eat less processed meat. Try to avoid processed meats, such as those found in hot dogs, hams, and pre-packaged foods, especially during pregnancy.
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Wash plastic food containers and utensils by hand rather than in the dishwasher. Heat can cause plastic to leak BPA and phthalates into food.
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Avoid microwaving plastic-wrapped foods or beverages, including infant formula and breast milk.
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Use glass and stainless steel. Especially when cooking or serving hot food, use alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, whenever possible.
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Learn about plastic recycling codes. Look at the recycling code on the bottom of the product to find the plastic type. Try to avoid plastics with recycling codes 3 (phthalates), 6 (styrene), and 7 (bisphenols).
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Hand washing. Because the chemicals in plastic are very common in the items we touch throughout the day, it's important to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food.
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Bibliography:
[1]https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthyliving/nutrition/Pages/Food-Additives.aspx
[2] Trasande L, Shaffer R M, Sathyanarayana S, et al. Food Additives and Child Health. Pediatrics August 2018; 142 (2): e20181408. 10.1542/peds.2018-1408