Welcome.

What chemicals are added to your food.

Preservatives.
Preservatives are widely used in the food industry to extend the shelf life of food.
With preservaties in it,food can last much longer without going mouldy orbecoming infested with bugs and bacteria. It can be shipped across the world
and kept "fresh" for years.

Unfortunately, the chemical characteristics that make preservatives effective in
killing bacteria and other organisms in food can effect our heath.

- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites.

•   Sulphur dioxide (E220).
•   Sodium sulphite (E221).
•   Sodium bisulphite( E222).
•   Sodium metabisulphite (E223).
•   Potassium metabisulphite (E224).
•   Potassium sulphite (E225).
•   Calcium sulphite (E226).
•   Calcium hydrogen sulphite (E 227).
•   Potasssium bisulphate ( E228).

 Sulphur dioxide is a gas that is formed when sulphur burns. It also occurs
 naturally. It dissolves in water to form sulphurous acid. The acid form a
 series of salts called sulphites and metabisulphates,which are used as food
 preservaties.

Sulphites prevent vegetables and fruit ( including dried fruit like appricots)
from going brown after they have been peeled and keep vegetables looking
fresh even if they are old and stale.

Dried fruit slices can be kept standing for hours in a sulphite solution until
the sulphur dioxide has completely penetrated the slices.sulphites are often
used on french fries in fast-food outlets and restaurants to stop them
going brown after potatoes have been peeled.

The wine industry uses sulphites to stop wine turning to vinegar and
to preserve its colour.Grapes are often fumigated with sulphur dioxide
to prevent fungal growth.Sulphite are also used to prevent yeast and
bacterial growth in food and to stop oils and fats from turning rancid,
thus extending their shelf life.

They are also uses as a colour preservative in seafood such as
shrimp and lobster.

Health effects.
> Sulphur dioxide - linked to mutation and cancer.
> Sulphites - Severe asthma attacks,stomach problems, blured vision
    dizziness,irregular breathing and nervous irritablity.

Happy reading, bindaudsblog.