Is that burger you’re eating contain the same ingredients as those found in your shampoo? Fast foods are loaded with high amounts of chemicals that add flavour, colour, and texture to help keep them fresh longer. Eating fast food and other foods that contain these chemicals can lead to harmful effects on the body.
Not only should you be concerned about the amount of chemicals in fast food, but you should also consider the high levels of saturated and trans fats, as well as the sky-high sodium levels that will send your blood pressure sky-rocketing. Fast food restaurants use trans fats because they keep foods fresh longer and give them a less greasy feel. Trans fats can also lead to diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.
It may seem odd that the ingredient list of fast food is also found in everyday cosmetic products like shampoo, hair conditioner, soap and moisturizers. In fact, some of these chemicals have been banned by countries like China because of their harmful effects – why is America not following through? You have the choice, however, so making the choice of ditching fast food and switching to whole, fresh, un-processed foods may be in the best interest of your body, mind & spirit.
Here are 6 cosmetic chemicals that are added to fast food
1. Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Found in shampoo and soap, as well as in the bread products at all fast food joints.
Reasoning for use in fast food: ‘dough conditioner’ even though bread does not require this, and has been made without SSL for thousands of years.
2. Calcium Disodium EDTA
Found in skin products and hair conditioner (used as stabilizer), and in Taco Bell’s bacon ranch sauce, Arby’s light Italian dressing and Burger King’s tartar sauce.
Reasoning for use in fast food: flavour protectant in fast food sauces, dips and dressings
3. Ammonium Glycyrrhizin
Found in facial mask products, and in Burger King’s “breakfast syrup”
Reasoning for use in fast food: flavour enhancer and flavouring agent
4. Disodium Phosphate
Found in mascara and mouthwash, and in Wendy’s chili, chedar cheese sauce, and Frosty desserts. Also found in Taco Bell’s Southwest Chicken.
Reasoning for use in fast food: food preservative
5. Propylene Glycol
Found in shampoo, mouthwash, and hand sanitizers, as well as in Burger King’s pickles, smokey cheese sauce, and BK stacker sauce.
Reasoning for use in fast food: gives most of today’s food and beverages their distinctive taste
6. Benzoyl Peroxide
*Recently banned in China
Found as an active ingredient in acne creams, and in all the bread products you find in fast food joints.
Reasoning for use: bleaching wheat flour white (all fast food breads)
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