Why are preservatives bad if you eat too much of them?

[LordJezo]

What do they do bad?

 

[BigPoppa]

Some have links to cancer. Food dies also.

 

[monk3y]

I don't think most of the preservatives used are bad. There are cases once in a while where they cause problems but most of those are replaced or removed.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Some have links to cancer. Food dies also.

What doesn't have links to cancer?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: InstincT
I don't think most of the preservatives used are bad. There are cases once in a while where they cause problems but most of those are replaced or removed.

Actually, it depends what you eat and how often you eat it. Do a google search for nitrates/nitrites and their links to cancer.

 

[Beattie]

Preservitives build up in the tissues in your body. I remember reading something about someone that died and thier body didnt decompose because of all the preservitives. Dont know if it was true though.

Also, there are some links to cancer. Chemicals are just generally bad to consume.

 

[LordJezo]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: InstincT
I don't think most of the preservatives used are bad. There are cases once in a while where they cause problems but most of those are replaced or removed.

Actually, it depends what you eat and how often you eat it. Do a google search for nitrates/nitrites and their links to cancer.

Frozen dinners, 2 or 3 at a time, every single day.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: InstincT
I don't think most of the preservatives used are bad. There are cases once in a while where they cause problems but most of those are replaced or removed.

Actually, it depends what you eat and how often you eat it. Do a google search for nitrates/nitrites and their links to cancer.

Frozen dinners, 2 or 3 at a time, every single day.

Good to hear. Keep it up and be sure to supplement each meal with canned sausage and a pack of Lucky Strikes. 😀

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: LordJezo

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: InstincT
I don't think most of the preservatives used are bad. There are cases once in a while where they cause problems but most of those are replaced or removed.

Actually, it depends what you eat and how often you eat it. Do a google search for nitrates/nitrites and their links to cancer.

Frozen dinners, 2 or 3 at a time, every single day.

Good to hear. Keep it up and be sure to supplement each meal with canned sausage and a pack of Lucky Strikes. 😀

LOL

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Some have links to cancer. Food dies also.

What doesn't have links to cancer?

Heh, too true.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
Some have links to cancer. Food dies also.

What doesn't have links to cancer?

Heh, too true.

Well, yeah but the point is that some things are really worth avoiding whereas others are just kinda the "may be linked to cancer" news story du jour. Eating foods with a lot of preservatives in them (like certain processed meats, sausage, etc) is definitely not a good idea on a regular basis.

FWIW- you can buy bacon and such that is prepared without nitrates. It's semi-hard to find, but tastes exactly the same as the regular stuff.

 

[dullard]

Start by looking at The US Food and Drug Department consumer page. This FDA link (while old) does list the steps that need to be taken before adding a preservative to food:
1) Manufacturer must prove it is safe in the amounts consumed.
2) Manufacturer must prove any chemical the preservative breaks down to it is safe in the amounts consumed.
3) Manufacturer must prove the cumulative effect of the preservative in the body is safe.
4) Manufacturer must prove the toxicity is minimal (including possible cancer links).
5) The preservative must be used in minimal quantities - no more than is absolutely necessary.
6) Any new data on a preservative requires steps #1 - #5 to be reevaluated.

Thus with CURRENT scientific knowledge, preservatives are safe. But we don't currently know everything. New data can come along and show that a preservative that was thought to be safe might in fact be harmful in some rare cases.

It is the thought that maybe current science knowledge is wrong that makes people want to avoid preservatives. Many countries have populations that are horribly terrified of preservatives, the US seems to tollerate them. I personally see people eating preservatives all the time without consequence. So I trust current scientific knowledge that they are safe to eat (even when considering the cumulative effect).