Industrial Plastics Chemical Present in 500+ Foods
Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is a synthetic substance used by plastics makers to generate tiny bubbles that make materials light, spongy and strong. These materials show up in flip-flops, yoga mats and many types of foam packing and insulation. In 1962, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of ADA as a food additive, and today in the US it is often used as a flour bleaching agent and as an oxidizing agent in dough to improve its performance for bakers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has linked ADA to increased occupational-related risk of respiratory problems and skin irritation, and it is not approved for use as a food additive in either the European Union or Australia. The Environmental Working Group (Washington DC, USA) reports that nearly 500 foods found on grocery store shelves in the United States, including many foods labeled as "healthy," contain ADA. The EWG is finalizing its Food Database, which shows that ADA is widespread in supermarket items as well as fast food. EWG’s Food Database will be the first of its kind – looking deeply at the nutritional value of foods sold in supermarkets as well as their potential health hazards and degree of processing.
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