{"id":107598,"date":"2014-02-09T22:38:34","date_gmt":"2014-02-09T22:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theorganicprepper.ca\/?p=3082"},"modified":"2014-02-09T22:38:34","modified_gmt":"2014-02-09T22:38:34","slug":"subway-to-remove-dangerous-azodicarbonamide-will-all-these-other-restaurants-follow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/editorials\/subway-to-remove-dangerous-azodicarbonamide-will-all-these-other-restaurants-follow\/","title":{"rendered":"Subway to Remove Dangerous Azodicarbonamide; Will All These Other Restaurants Follow?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theorganicprepper.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/horror-ingredient.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3083 aligncenter\" alt=\"horror-ingredient\" src=\"http:\/\/www.theorganicprepper.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/horror-ingredient-300x193.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"193\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>by\u00a0Aaron Dykes and Melissa Melton<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/truthstreammedia.com\/subway-to-remove-dangerous-azodicarbonamide-will-all-these-other-restaurants-follow\/\" >Originally published at Truthstream Media<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Why should the burden be on the average consumer to do hours of research on every single ingredient of every single food item just to avoid health risks that could make us sick or get cancer? Meanwhile, the FDA\u2019s pro-corporatist\u00a0<em>laissez faire<\/em>\u00a0policy is allowing companies to continue putting these potentially carcinogenic, potentially dangerous additives \u2014 flagged as hazards by scientific researchers \u2014 into the food and get away with selling it to a largely trusting public?<\/p>\n<p><em>Watch this original Truthstream Media video:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fL3ee_LcEE8\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>We have given Subway, the \u201cEat fresh!\u201d restaurant,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/truthstreammedia.com\/idiocracy-the-white-houses-healthy-diet-plan-for-kids-brought-to-you-by-subway\/\" >a lot of flak lately<\/a>\u00a0for the company\u2019s $41 million ad campaign partnership with first lady Michelle Obama (can you say \u201ccorporatism\u201d?) regarding her \u201cLet\u2019s Move!\u201d kids healthy eating initiative. Why? Because, as shown in\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/82KInTuyXZo\" >this video here<\/a><\/strong>, the restaurant dishes up some highly processed food with lots of chemical additives that don\u2019t exactly bring the adjective \u201chealthy\u201d immediately to mind (or\u00a0<em>ever).<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Vani Hari, over at\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/foodbabe.com\/2014\/02\/04\/launching-petition-subway-will-finally-hear-us-loud-clear\/\" >FoodBabe.com<\/a>, pressured Subway with a petition to remove dangerous, potential carcinogen azodicarbonamide from their breads just a few days ago; already the restaurant has\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Health\/protesters-target-subway-chemical-sandwich-bread\/story?id=22373414\" >vowed to remove it<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Bravo on that score, Subway. We have to give credit where credit is due. (Also, great job Vani!)<\/p>\n<h3>This Is a Great First Step \u2014 Now for All the Rest\u2026<\/h3>\n<p>Now we need to get all these other restaurants \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/nutrition.mcdonalds.com\/getnutrition\/ingredientslist.pdf\" >McDonalds<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bk.com\/cms\/en\/us\/cms_out\/digital_assets\/files\/pages\/MenuNutritionInformation_January2013_1.pdf\" >Burger King<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wendys.com\/redesign\/wendys\/pdf\/en_US_nutrition.pdf\" >Wendy\u2019s<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/cds.arbys.com\/pdfs\/nutrition\/ingredient-allergens.pdf\" >Arby\u2019s<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.carlsjr.com\/system\/pdf_menus\/4\/original\/05012012_CKE_Carls_NutCalc_cvr_ingredientguide_nogb_COMBINE%5B4%5D.pdf?1335923496\" >Carl\u2019s Jr.<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hardees.com\/system\/pdf_menus\/10\/original\/Hardee%27s%20Ingredient%20and%20Allergen%20Guide%202010_1122.pdf?1290465451\" >Hardees<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.idq.com\/NCPublic\/ChoiceCalcResult.aspx?IdMenuItem=3,190,228&amp;IdMenuGroup=26,20,31%23\" >Dairy Queen<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.pizzahut.com\/files\/pdf\/ph_ingredients.pdf\" >Pizza Hut<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.steaknshake.com\/data\/ingredients-allergens.pdf\" >Steak \u2018n Shake<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=sonic+drive+in+ingredients&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;aq=t&amp;rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&amp;client=firefox-a&amp;channel=fflb#channel=fflb&amp;q=dunkin+donuts+ingredients&amp;rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official\" >Dunkin\u2019 Donuts<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/assets.jackinthebox.com\/pdf_attachment_settings\/108\/value\/Ingredients_and_Allergens.pdf\" >Jack-in-the-Box<\/a>,<a href=\"http:\/\/www.whitecastle.com\/nutrition\/ingredients\" >White Castle<\/a>, etc. etc. ad nauseum (even\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.starbucks.com\/menu\/food\/bakery\/butter-croissant\" >Starbucks<\/a>) \u2013 to\u00a0<em>also<\/em>\u00a0remove azodicarbonamide from their bread products as well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s right, the vast majority of commercial breads in this country include azodicarbonamide<\/strong>. These restaurants do not make their bread with it in the countries where it is banned, but it is still served up to us here in the U.S. Obviously this chemical isn\u2019t necessary. It\u2019s not only found in U.S. restaurants, but in grocery stores as well.<\/p>\n<p>Why should you be concerned?<\/p>\n<p>Azodicarbonamide is a petroleum byproduct used as a dough conditioner and bleaching agent in commercial breads. As Vani points out, it has been banned in the U.K., Australia and other parts of Europe for causing allergic reactions, respiratory problems and asthma. The World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/ipcs\/publications\/cicad\/en\/cicad16.pdf\" >47<\/a>\u00a0azodicarbonamide studies and concluded that the chemical likely does contribute to respiratory issues. If bakers were to include the chemical in their breads in<a href=\"http:\/\/foodbabe.com\/2013\/09\/23\/are-you-eating-this-ingredient-banned-all-over-the-world\/\" >Singapore<\/a>, they would face up to 15 years in prison along with a possible $450,000 fine.<\/p>\n<p>Not here, though, because apparently\u00a0<strong>azodicarbonamide is considered \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fdaimports.com\/industries\/food_beverages\/gras_notification_assessments.php\" >GRAS<\/a>\u201d here, or<em>Generally Recognized As Safe<\/em>\u00a0in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) terms<\/strong>. GRAS, it turns out, doesn\u2019t really mean a whole lot, mostly because\u00a0<em>one of the primary ways a company\u2019s food additive can get GRAS status is by the company \u201cself-affirming\u201d that an ingredient is safe<\/em>, using a panel of experts of the company\u2019s own choosing (in other words, no independent panels\/studies) and keeping its own documentation of that safety on file. The FDA then can reply that it does not object to this self-assessment.<\/p>\n<p>Worse, the FDA does not even require a company to submit a GRAS notification. Instead, a company can take a chance it won\u2019t get called out on using an additive, and the FDA in turn\u00a0<em>can<\/em>take action\u00a0<em>if the agency so chooses<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Seems a little like leaving the door open so wide, there might as well not even be a\u00a0<em>door.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, asthma and allergies are just the tip of the iceberg regarding the dangerous health issues that stem from using azodicarbonamide as a food additive.<\/p>\n<h3>Semicarbonazide, the Cancer-Linked By-product of Azodicarbonamide<\/h3>\n<p>According to multiple scientific studies, azodicarbonamide is a risky ingredient, not only in its own right, but in particular due to its production of the hazardous by-product semicarbonazide.<\/p>\n<p>According to the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/foodsafety\/chem\/sem\/en\/\" >WHO<\/a>, \u201cAzodicarbonamide is also used in certain pesticide formulations and industrial applications.\u201d It\u2019s breakdown product\u00a0<strong>semicarbonazide hydrochloride<\/strong>\u00a0is likewise used in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jzxychem.com\/product_detail_en\/id\/7.html\" >pharmaceutical and pesticide<\/a>\u00a0applications.<\/p>\n<p>Considered a food contaminant and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.efsa.europa.eu\/en\/press\/news\/afc050701.htm\" >banned<\/a>\u00a0in the EU and elsewhere,\u00a0<strong>semicarbonazide<\/strong>\u00a0is produced when azodicarbonamide is heated as well as in the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/15204530\" >hypochlorite<\/a>\u00a0process used to create many food additives, including carrageenan. It can also be found naturally in some foods.<\/p>\n<p>Chinese researchers\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/21786817\" >found<\/a>\u00a0significant trace levels of\u00a0<strong>semicarbonazide<\/strong>\u00a0in baked flour goods (which have been heated) that may be of concern for food safety, with greater levels of the compound found on the outside of foods, where it is exposed to direct baking heat.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers from Greece\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0278691509004621\" >noted<\/a>\u00a0that, \u201c<strong>Semicarbazide<\/strong>\u00a0(SEM) belongs to the hydrazine family of chemicals, some members of which are known to possess carcinogenic potential.\u201d Various studies have backed this up with other concerning issues found in animal studies to include\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/garfield.library.upenn.edu\/histcomp\/brent-rl_citing-2011\/node\/3519.html\" >endocrine disruption<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0278691509004621\" >genotoxicity<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/translate.google.com\/translate?sl=auto&amp;tl=en&amp;js=n&amp;prev=_t&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scielo.br%2Fscielo.php%3Fpid%3DS0102-09352012000200035%26script%3Dsci_arttext&amp;act=url\" >reduced body weight and frame, skeletal deformities,<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.readcube.com\/articles\/10.1590\/S0102-09352012000300037?locale=en\" >smaller testicles and poor sperm quality<\/a>\u00a0and more.<\/p>\n<p><strong>While azodicarbonamide remains both legal and widely used in the United States<\/strong>, some have pointed to a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/m\/pubmed\/16192074\/\" >2005 study<\/a>\u00a0affirming its safety and dismissing the negligent amounts of<strong>semicarbazide<\/strong>\u00a0as \u201cnot relevant to human exposure at trace levels\u201d while downplaying the results found in lab animals. It should be noted this peered-reviewed research was conducted by affiliates of Cantox Health Sciences International, a known corporate advocacy group which has previously upheld the safety and general fantastic-ness of both Monsanto\u2019s glyphosate-based\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.monsanto.com\/products\/Documents\/glyphosate-background-materials\/gly_human_risk.pdf\" >Roundup<\/a>\u00a0as well as\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.holisticmed.com\/aspartame\/burdock\/\" >aspartame<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 never minding the numerous studies to the contrary warning of food safety issues.<\/p>\n<p><em>Finally\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This is just one dangerous food additive flagged in just one kind of food. The full extent of the problem spans hundreds of chemicals over decades. If we really want safe food, are we really expected to do the research ourselves and then petition every establishment for each and every chemical? Or is the real answer in decentralizing the food supply and taking back control over what\u2019s on the end of our forks?<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Aaron Dykes and Melissa Melton\" src=\"http:\/\/truthstreammedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Aaron-Dykes-and-Melissa-Melton_avatar_1374988369-60x60.jpg\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"author-text\"><strong>Aaron Dykes and Melissa Melton<\/strong> c<em>reated Truthstream Media.com as an outlet to examine the news, uncover the deceptions, pierce through the fabric of illusions, know the real enemy, unshackle from the system, and begin to imagine the path towards taking back our lives, one step at a time, so that one day we might truly be free&#8230;<\/em><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by&nbsp;Aaron Dykes and Melissa Melton Originally published at Truthstream Media Why should the burden be on the average consumer to do hours of research on every single ingredient of every single food item just to avoid health risks that could make us sick or get cancer? Meanwhile, the FDA&rsquo;s pro-corporatist&nbsp;laissez<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theorganicprepper.ca\/subway-to-remove-dangerous-azodicarbonamide-will-all-these-other-restaurants-follow-02092014\">Read the Rest&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1228,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[461],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-107598","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-editorials"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1228"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107598\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}