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Beware of Azodicarbonamide

Azodicarbonamide Molecular Structure

This strange chemical compound is our enemy.  Unfortunately it has compromised the foods, primarily bread, that are readily available for us at the cost of our own health in supermarkets and the fast food restaurants that many of us frequent.  Azodicarbonamide is used as a food additive, but its PRIMARY use is in the production of foamed plastics, like yoga mats. Subway has come under fire for using azodicarbonamide in their bread. Azodicarbonamide has been banned for use in plastics that come in direct contact with food in Europe since 2005.  Likewise, Europe and Australia have entirely banned azodicarbonamide as a food additive.  Furthermore, in Singapore the use of azodicarbonamide in food is a crime!

I believe that putting this substance in our food is a crime, and allowing corporations to put this hazardous chemical in our food is a crime!  Why the FDA has allowed this chemical in our food I do not understand. Here in the US, OSHA requires that MSDSs (Material Safety Data Sheet) be available to employees for potentially harmful substances handled in the workplace under the Hazard Communication regulation.  The following information is taken from the MSDS for the chemical known as azodicarbonamide:

Acute Potential Health Effects:
Skin: May cause skin irritation. It may be absorbed by the skin.
Eyes: May cause mechanical eye irritation.
Inhalation: May cause respiratory tract irritation.
Ingestion: May cause gastrointestinal tract irritation with hypermotility and diarrhea. May affect respiration (respiratory stimulation, asthma).

Chronic Potential Health Effects:
Skin: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause skin sensitization (dermatitis)
Inhalation: Prolonged or repeated inhalation may affect the liver, metabolism, blood.
Ingestion: Prolonged or repeated ingestion may affect the kidneys, and endocrine system (thyroid hypofunction).

Precautions:
Keep away from heat. Keep away from sources of ignition. Ground all equipment containing material. Do not ingest. Do not breathe dust. Wear suitable protective clothing. In case of insufficient ventilation, wear suitable respiratory equipment. If ingested, seek medical advice immediately and show the container or the label. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Keep away from incompatibles such as oxidizing agents.

Source: Material Safety Data Sheet, Azodicarbonamide, F.C.C MSDS

To add insult to injury, azodicarbonamide has pronounced health hazards as recognized by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The ACS uses Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Numbers (CAS numbers) which provide a unique number for each chemical and are also used internationally. The following information was contained within the CAS registry for azodicarbonamide:

Health Hazard:
Inhalation or contact with vapors, substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death. May produce irritating, toxic and/or corrosive gases. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.

Source: chemicalbook.com

Now of course ingesting a lot of any chemical is dangerous, but it is currently legal for US companies to use up to 45ppm of this substance in any one food product. You would think that ingesting this chemical daily over a long period of time could be potentially dangerous for the body, like smoking cigarettes that contain harmful chemicals. It’s one thing if this chemical was in a cigarette, but for this chemical to reside in the bread our children eat for lunch everyday is inexcusable.

Corporate America should be ashamed. This is a crime against humanity. For the millions of Americans who have been buying bread products containing this chemical without knowing that it is listed as a “slightly hazardous” chemical according to worldwide standards, this is a crime. Who knows what lasting effects ingesting this chemical has on our children? And what is this chemical doing in our food!? Better bread? Or a cheaper method of manufacturing? I would say that corporate America has used this harmful chemical for the latter, and at the expense of our own health.

Following is a list of bread products ordered by brand name reported to be containing azodicarbonamide:

    1. Arnold Bakery Light 100% Whole Wheat Sliced Bread
    1. Arnold Brick Oven Premium White Sliced Bread
    1. Arnold Premium Italian Sliced Bread
    1. Arnold Select Chicago Hot Dog Rolls
    1. Arnold Select Potato Hot Dog Rolls
    1. Arnold Select Potato Sandwich Rolls
    1. Arnold Select Steak Rolls
    1. Arnold Select Wheat Hot Dog Rolls
    1. Arnold Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Rolls
    1. Aunt Millie’s 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins
    1. Aunt Millie’s 100% Whole Wheat Slimwiches
    1. Aunt Millie’s 98% Fat Free Multi-Grain English Muffins
    1. Aunt Millie’s 98% Fat Free Sourdough English Muffins
    1. Aunt Millie’s DHA with Omega 3 Bread
    1. Aunt Millie’s Eight Grain Slimwiches
    1. Aunt Millie’s Healthy Goodness 100% Whole Wheat with Omega 3S Bread
    1. Aunt Millie’s Healthy Goodness Light 100% Whole Wheat Bread
    1. Aunt Millie’s Healthy Goodness Light Potato Bread
    1. Aunt Millie’s Healthy Goodness Light Whole Grain Bread
    1. Aunt Millie’s Healthy Goodness Whole Grain White Bread
    1. Aunt Millie’s Hearth Reduced Calorie Hamburger Buns
    1. Aunt Millie’s Hearth Reduced Calorie Whole Grain Hot Dog Buns
    1. Aunt Millie’s Hearth Whole Grain Hot Dog Buns
    1. Aunt Millie’s Homestyle Honey Hot Dog Buns
    1. Aunt Millie’s Honey Wheat Tea Rolls
    1. Aunt Millie’s Light Five Grain Bread
    1. Aunt Millie’s Multi-Grain Rolls
    1. Aunt Millie’s New York Style Whole Grain Bagels
    1. Aunt Millie’s Old-Fashioned White English Muffins
    1. Aunt Millie’s Plain Croutons
    1. Aunt Millie’s Potato Slimwiches
    1. Aunt Millie’s Potato Tea Rolls
    1. Aunt Millie’s Seasoned Croutons
    1. Aunt Millie’s White Dinner Rolls
    1. Ball Park Hamburger Buns
    1. Ball Park Hot Dog Buns
    1. Bridgeford White Bread Dough
    1. Bridgford Bavarian Dark Demi-Loaf Tray Pack
    1. Bridgford Bavarian Dark Mini-Loaf
    1. Bridgford Cracked Wheat Frozen Demi Loaf Dough Tray Pack
    1. Bridgford Crusty Semolina Roll Dough
    1. Bridgford Gourmet Cinnamon Roll Dough
    1. Bridgford Honey Wheat Breadsticks Dough Layer Pack
    1. Bridgford Honey Wheat Frozen Demi Loaf DoughTray Pack
    1. Bridgford Honey Wheat Mini Loaf
    1. Bridgford Pre-Cut Cinnamon Rolls Layer Pack
    1. Bridgford Pre-Cut Honey Wheat Cinnamon Rolls Layer Pack
    1. Bridgford Pre-Cut Petite Cinnamon Rolls Layer Pack
    1. Bridgford White Demi-Loaf Tray Pack
    1. Bridgford White Flat Bread
    1. Bridgford White Whole Wheat Sheet Dough Layer Pack
    1. Country Hearth Kids’ Choice Hamburger Buns
    1. Country Hearth Kids’ Choice Hot Dog Buns
    1. Country Hearth Kids’ Choice White
    1. Country Hearth Kids’ Choice Whole Grain
    1. Fiber One, Hamburger Buns
    1. Fiber One, Hot Dog Buns
    1. Francisco Rolls Hard French
    1. Francisco Sheepherder’s Bread
    1. Franz Seattle International French Baguette
    1. Freihofer’s Country White Bread
    1. Freihofer’s Jumbo Hot Dog Rolls
    1. Hannaford All Butter Mini Croissants
    1. Hannaford Apple Strudel Bites
    1. Hannaford Jumbo Rye Boule
    1. Hannaford Portuguese Rolls
    1. Hostess Glazed Honey Buns
    1. Nathan’s Beef Hot Dogs
    1. Oroweat 100% Whole Grain Sandwich Rolls
    1. Oroweat 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns
    1. Oroweat 100% Whole Wheat Hotdog Buns
    1. Oroweat Country Potato Bread
    1. Oroweat Country Potato Buns
    1. Oroweat Dinner Rolls, 100% Whole Wheat
    1. Oroweat Dinner Rolls, Country Potato
    1. Oroweat Dutch Country Extra Fiber Bread
    1. Oroweat Hot Dog Buns 100% Whole Wheat
    1. Oroweat Hot Dog Buns Cracked Wheat Country
    1. Oroweat Italian Bread
    1. Oroweat Premium Onion Buns
    1. Oroweat Premium Sweet Hawaiian Dinner Rolls
    1. Oroweat Whole Grain and Flax Bread
    1. Pantry Essentials Hamburger Buns
    1. Pantry Essentials Hot Dog Buns
    1. Pantry Essentials White Bread
    1. PC Blue Menu 100% Whole Wheat Gigantico Hot Dog Rolls
    1. PC Blue Menu Gigantico 100% Whole Wheat Burger Buns
    1. PC Blue Menu Multigrain Flax Loaf
    1. PC Blue Menu Oatmeal Loaf
    1. PC Blue Menu Whole Wheat Soy Loaf
    1. PC Calabrese Bread Croutons – Sea Salt & Pepper
    1. PC Gigantico Burger Buns
    1. PC Gigantico Hot Dog Buns
    1. PC Gigantico Hot Dog Rolls
    1. PC Mini Top-Sliced Hot Dog Buns
    1. PC Sesame Slider Mini Burger Buns
    1. PC Street Dog Long Hot Dog Buns
    1. Pillsbury Artisan Pizza Crust with Whole Grain
    1. Pillsbury Country Italian Loaf Bread
    1. Pillsbury Crusty French Loaf Bread
    1. Pillsbury Dinner Rolls
    1. Pillsbury Grands Cinnamon Rolls
    1. Pillsbury Grands Mini Cinnamon Rolls
    1. Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls with Icing
    1. Pillsbury Original Breadsticks
    1. Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries
    1. Safeway Giant Hamburger Buns
    1. Safeway Hamburger Buns
    1. Safeway Hot Dog Buns Potato
    1. Safeway Kitchens Hot Dog Buns Enriched
    1. Safeway Kitchens Hot Dog Buns Wheat
    1. Safeway Plain Bagels
    1. Safeway Potato Hamburger Buns
    1. Safeway Sesame Seed Giant Hamburger Buns
    1. Safeway Wheat Giant Hamburger Buns
    1. Sara Lee 6CT Deluxe Pre-Sliced Everything Bagels
    1. Sara Lee 6CT Deluxe Pre-Sliced Onion Bagels
    1. Sara Lee 6CT Deluxe Pre-Sliced Plain Bagels
    1. Sara Lee Blueberry Mini Bagels
    1. Sara Lee Cinnamon Raisin Mini Bagels
    1. Sara Lee Classic White Bread
    1. Sara Lee Classic White Buns
    1. Sara Lee Corn Dusted Whole Grain Kaiser Bun
    1. Sara Lee Deli Rolls
    1. Sara Lee Hot Dog Buns Soft and Smooth 100% Whole Wheat
    1. Sara Lee Hot Dog Buns Soft and Smooth Whole Grain White
    1. Sara Lee Sesame Hamburger Bun
    1. Sara Lee Soft and Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Bread
    1. Sara Lee Soft and Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Bun
    1. Sara Lee Soft and Smooth Made with Whole Grain White Hamburger Buns
    1. Sara Lee Soft and Smooth Mini S&wich Buns
    1. Sara Lee Whole Grain English Muffins
    1. Sara Lee, Blueberry Crumble Bread
    1. Smuckers Uncrustables
    1. Stroehmann Small White Bread
    1. Stroehmann, White Enriched Bread
    1. Thomas’ 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins
    1. Thomas’ English Muffin Toasting Bread
    1. Wegmans Italian Classics Tortellini, Beef
    1. Wegmans Italian Classics Tortellini, Italian Sausage
    1. Weight Watchers, Traditional Grains Bread
    Wonder Smart White Bread

Source: goodguide.com

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