Grant Imahara from Myth Busters decided to study the McDonald’s French fries, and see what is in it.
Some of the ingredients he found to be cause for concern, aside from the spuds at least, were as follows:
- Dimethylpolysiloxane (a form of silicone in Silly Putty)
- Hydrogenated soybean oil (from trans-fat)
- Tertiary buthylhydroquinone; TBHQ (a petrol based chemical)
TBHQ
According to the makers of TBHQ, they claim that it is merely a phenol used to stabilize fats, foods and vegetable oils against deterioration from oxidation. This helps prolong its storage life, and is found in a wide variety of products, from biodiesel, to perfumes. It is used in perfumery to lower evaporation rate, thus improving its stability. It is also used to inhibit corrosion in biodiesel. TBHQ can also be found in resins, oil field additives, lacquers, and varnishes.
Manufacturers have claimed that TBHQ is safe to be consumed in safe concentration, as evaluated and passed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and also European Food Safety Authority (ESFA).
Hydrogenated soybean Oil
It is known to be the silent killer, which is used to prolong shelf life of products in the food industry. It is interesting to know that researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston have reported at least 100,000 cardiac deaths in the United States, because these people ingested a lot of trans fat. The researchers recommended that it would be healthier if they opted for monounsaturated oils, or non-hydrogenated polyunsaturated oils in their diets.
Dimethylpolysiloxane
Dimethylpolysiloxane is a chemical which is used in mold release agents, hair conditioners, and aquarium tank sealants. It is also associated to the toxic chemical, formaldehyde, which is highly linked to the causes of cancer, allergies, brain damage and auto-immune diseases!
“Food Babe” Vanni Hari also reported that the U.S. French fries are in a worse state of production compared to the McDonald’s French Fries in Europe. According to her, the one in the UK usually uses its basic ingredients, of sugar, salt, vegetable oil and potatoes.
It is surprising to her that the McDonald’s fries in Europe is uncomplicated in their preparation and cooking. She wonders why the U.S. McDonald’s French fries needs to have anti-foaming agents in it. She speculated that the European authority regulates Dimethylpolysiloxane very strictly, as they know that this compound is not fit for human consumption at all!
Now that you know of the contents of the McDonald’s french-fries , would you still eat it?
Source: www.newstarget.com
