1. Mono and diglycerides

These are used to maintain softness in baked goods. Diglycerides are on the FDA list of food additives to be studied for possible mutagenic, teratogenic, subacute and reproductive effects. This is medicalese for birth defects, cancer and...

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Read more

2. Calcium proprionate

This is a mold inhibitor. It is generally regraded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA.

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail

3. Benzoyl peroxide

This is a bleaching agent; also skin irritant and possible allergen. Benzoyl peroxide is toxic if inhaled. Generally regarded as safe by the FDA, it’s used in acne cream.

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail

4. Tricalcium phosphate

This is an anticaking agent and a dietary supplement with no known toxicity.

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail

5. Potassium Bromate

This is used to obtain a fine, spongelike quality in the bread. Legal allowance is 50 ppb (ppb = parts per billion). It is very toxic when taken internally. Between two and four ounces of a 2% bromine solution can poison a child. Burns and skin...

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Read more

6. Magnesium Carbonate

This is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. In fact, it is a common form of magnesium supplement (albeit an inexpensvie, poorly absorbed magnesium supplement).

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail

7. Calcium Sulfate

This is plaster of Paris and it is used in baking (Helluva thing to find in bread, isn’t it?) Calcium sulfate is used as a firming agent, yeast food and dough conditioner. Because it absorbs moisture and hardens quickly, its ingestion may result...

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Read more

8. Chemicals in Bread

In a 110-pound batch of bread there is about 75 grams of additives, not counting the vitamins added to enrich the product. It’s about three ounces of chemical, a little less than one gram per loaf. Some are harmful; some are not so harmful,...

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail | Read more

9. Ammonium Chloride

This is a dough conditioner and yeast food. Naturally occurring and generally regarded as safe by the FDA.

Sunday, 10 May 2009 | Print | PDF |  E-mail