Chemicals are continuing to fill up the ingredient list on many products.

Many companies add chemicals to products to improve their taste, texture, preservability and most importantly to minimize costs. Anything marketed must be approved by the FDA before they are allowed on the market legally if they fall into any of these categories:

• Animal and Veterinary
• Cosmetics
• Drugs
• Food
• Medical Services
• Radiation emitting products
• Tobacco products
• Vaccines, blood and biologics

I think we all can agree that these fields coincide with products that have shown to cause cancer. Most people know that tobacco causes cancer, because it says so directly on the box its packaged in. The unfortunate truth is that many other products are carry carcinogenic chemicals just like cigarettes, but do not have to disclose it simply because they have a proprietary formula which they don't want competitors getting their hands on.

This brings me to the chemical today that i want to put into the spotlight. I wanted to address this chemical over others not only because of its hazardous effects on the endocrine system, but also because of how commonly it is found in many of the above everyday products. The culprit chemical is BPA. In a nutshell BPA is a chemical used to make plastics and resins and according to the FDA, "BPA is safe at the very low levels that occur in some foods." The first issue i have with this statement is that BPA does not "occur" in foods it is artificially added, either first hand or by some type of secondary source like a wrapper or bottle. The other issue that that if it is safe at low levels why is it being manufactured in enormous amounts in an array of products. Not to mention, most of these products manufactured with BPA are very commonly used, for ex. water bottles, receipts, lining in canned foods and more. Another key problem is that the, "Concerns about the safety of Bisphenol A (BPA) have prompted a federal ban on the chemical in baby bottles and sippy cups." Though it is swell that the FDA doesn't allow the use of BPA in many baby products why would they allow them for anyone else? There is obviously a problem with BPA they know about, so why wouldn't the ban stand in general. BPA is not found naturally, yet 90% of children and adults have been tested positive for BPA in the blood.

The most deceiving carrier of BPA in my opinion are thermal receipts. If it makes a mark when scratched shown like above, than it is thermal receipt paper that carries enormous amount of BPA. Now, you might say who cares i don't ingest my receipts. Well I am glad you don't, however the big problem with BPA is that it is capable of easily permeating the skin. Who would have thought that touching your receipt could instantly infuse BPA into your bloodstream? Also, why would the FDA allow such an invasive chemical to be sold? These questions are beyond me, and it only gets worse because this is just one of the many chemicals in the included in the average American's diet.

As terrible as BPA is i want the don't want it to be the major takeaway from, but rather to not focus so hard on the nutritional facts, and instead pay more attention to the ingredients. Not that the nutritional facts don't matter, but the real problems like BPA and many other chemicals lie within the ingredient list.

If you made it this far then I thank you for your time i hope that you agree that it was used wisely! If you want me to do more research on other dangerous food additives or even beneficial ones leave them in the comments and ill attempt to put them in my next post.

For more info on BPA watch this quick video -

As always look out for your body and it will return the favor!

https://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/FDABasicsforIndustry/ucm234625.htm

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331

http://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/pft/2016/12/23/is-bpa-on-thermal-paper-a-health-hazard

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/03/the-health-risk-of-bpa-in-receipts/index.htm

http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Environmental%20Health/Environmental%20Fact%20Sheets/Pages/Fact-Sheet-Bisphenol-A.aspx#.WjCZhhOPKDU