By Melissa Kravitz Americans are no strangers to food additives : the preservatives, coloring and flavoring agents that keep foods looking fresh and taste better. A product of our desire for fast, cheap and satisfying eats that underscores our detachment from actually fresh, locally sourced foods, they are found in everything from nutrition-boosting salad dressings to McDonald’s French fries. But are they safe? In ancient times, additives may have been used not only to make food more flavorful but to keep it safe for consumption, too. Bruce Eaton, a retired professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado, Boulder, points out that "the proliferation of the spice trade, which began as early as 3000 BC, led to increasing demand for additives to enhance the taste of food," adding that, "historical records … include the use of spices to preserve meat and inhibit the growth of bacteria." Fast forward to the 20th century. As the U.S. diet became more synthetic, processed and commercialized , food additives became more common . In 1958, Congress passed the Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, requiring the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve all additives used in food […]
Latest Articles
Plant a Garden that Helps the Planet by Devouring Carbon
Takeaways: The more plants a garden has, the more carbon it can hold.
The way to do this is by choosing a variety of...
Biden Cancels Offshore Drilling in Alaska and Gulf of Mexico
Takeaways: The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that they are canceling three offshore oil and gas drilling lease sales.
These project were to...
Why Sustainable Construction Should Be A Priority For Land Developers
Why Sustainable Construction Should Be A Priority For Land Developers Sustainability is the new buzzword for businesses across all domains, and real estate is not...
Cities are Letting Plants Go Wild for ‘No Mow May’
Takeaways: Homeowners around the world are participating in "No Mow May" by letting their lawns grow out for the whole month of May.
Doing...
Europe’s Largest Floating Solar Farm is Ready to Produce Power in July
Takeaways: Europe's largest floating solar farm will be ready to generate 7.5 gigawatts/hour starting in July.
The farm is built on Western Europe's biggest...
People Around the World Love and Grieve Nature in Unique Ways
Takeaways: A recent study on mental health and nature has found that people across the world perceive nature in different ways.
The way we...