Rizik od boja u hrani?

Novi izveštaj Centra za Nauku u Javnom Interesu (Center for Science in the Public Interest) me naterao da napišem ovaj blog. Tema su veštačke boje u ishrani.

Već dugo se priča da su veštačke boje sumnjive za uporebu, da izazivaju alergijske reakcije, hiperaktivnost a neke su čak i kancerogene. Ovde u Americi proizvodjači hrane godišnje upotrebe 6818181.8 kg veštačkih boja. Izveštaj Centra za Nauku u Javnom Interesu (Center for Science in the Public Interest) ukazuje na činjenicu da tri veštačke boje koje se najviše koriste u ishrani Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 sadrže sastojke koje izazivaju kancer. Boje Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 izazivaju alergijske reakcije i to ozbiljne, dok su druge veštačke boje povezane sa hiperaktivnošću kod dece. Izveštaj CSPI je dostupan na ovom linku u pdf formatu.

Zabrinjavajuća je činjenica da se veštačke boje i dalje koriste i to sve više. Iz ovog izveštaja podvlačim činjenicu da je u Americi od 1955 godine upotreba veštačkih boja povećana za 5 puta. Ne znam da li znate ali ovde je sve živo što se jede i pije obojeno, što je razumljivo iz marketinškog pogleda na svet jer šarene boje privlače decu, tako da je hrana, piće, grickalice sve obojeno u svim duginim bojama. Mene čudi činjenica da je predstavnik za FDA (Food and Drug Administration) rekao da Red 3 može da inicira kancer jos 1985 godine, a ta boja je još u upotrebi. Ova agencija inače ima misiju da štiti potrošače i pazi na njihovo zdravlje. Ona se umesto toga bavi time da odobri povećanje dozvoljenog nivoa bismuth citrate-a u bojama za kosu. Evo vam (strana 2): Food and Color Additive Final Rules

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) is confirming the
effective date of April 27, 2010, for the
final rule that appeared in the Federal
Register of March 26, 2010. The final
rule amended the color additive
regulations by increasing the permitted
use level of bismuth citrate as a color
additive in cosmetics intended for
coloring hair on the scalp.

Meni je i nešto drugo interesantno, a to je da te boje uopšte nisu potrebne u ishrani niti su neki vitalni sastojak prehrambenih produkta. Zašto ih onda koriste? Ima perfektno dobre prirodne boje koje se prave od bundeve, šargarepe, jagoda, cvekle, paprike itd.

Veštačke boje se u Srbiji označavaju sa E brojevima kao i u zemljama Evropske Unije. Svaka zemlja koja je članica UN donosi svoje zakonske regulative na osnovu preporuka i standarda komisije Codex Allimentarius. Boja E 123 (amarant) je veoma štetna a i dalje se nalazi na opštoj pozitivnoj listi aditiva u Srbiji i naravno koristi se i dalje. Nije dozvoljeno da se ova E 123 boja koristi u bezalkoholnim osvežavajućim napicima i to mi je drago, ali bi bilo poželjno da bude izbačena iz upotrebe kompletno pošto su odgovorni već svesni da je štetna i da brojna istraživanja ukazuju na njenu kancerogenost.

Secam se da je pre neku godinu bio cirkus sa nekim sokovima od borovnica tamo u Srbiji. Kakvo je stanje sada? Colorful sto bi rekli ameri, a?

p.s. Koga mrzi da cita onaj izvestaj u pdf formatu evo malo copy paste odatle (na engleskom):

Blue 1 was not found to be toxic in key rat and mouse studies, but an unpublished study suggested the possibility that Blue 1 caused kidney tumors in mice, and a preliminary in vitro study raised questions about possible effects on nerve cells. Blue 1 may not cause cancer, but confirmatory studies should be conducted. The dye can cause hypersensitivity reactions.

Blue 2 cannot be considered safe given the statistically significant incidence of tu¬mors, particularly brain gliomas, in male rats. It should not be used in foods.

Citrus Red 2, which is permitted only for coloring the skins of oranges not used for processing, is toxic to rodents at modest levels and caused tumors of the urinary blad¬der and possibly other organs. The dye poses minimal human risk, because it is only used at minuscule levels and only on orange peels, but it still has no place in the food supply.

Green 3 caused significant increases in bladder and testes tumors in male rats. Though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers it safe, this little-used dye must remain suspect until further testing is conducted.

Orange B is approved for use only in sausage casings, but has not been used for many years. Limited industry testing did not reveal any problems.

Red 3 was recognized in 1990 by the FDA as a thyroid carcinogen in animals and is banned in cosmetics and externally applied drugs. All uses of Red 3 lakes (combi¬nations of dyes and salts that are insoluble and used in low-moisture foods) are also banned. However, the FDA still permits Red 3 in ingested drugs and foods, with about 200,000 pounds of the dye being used annually. The FDA needs to revoke that approval.

Red 40, the most-widely used dye, may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice. The dye causes hypersensitivity (allergy-like) reactions in a small number of consumers and might trigger hyperactivity in children. Considering the safety questions and its non-essentiality, Red 40 should be excluded from foods unless and until new tests clearly demonstrate its safety.

Yellow 5 was not carcinogenic in rats, but was not adequately tested in mice. It may be contaminated with several cancer-causing chemicals. In addition, Yellow 5 causes sometimes-severe hypersensitivity reactions in a small number of people and might trigger hyperactivity and other behavioral effects in children. Posing some risks, while serving no nutritional or safety purpose, Yellow 5 should not be allowed in foods.

Yellow 6 caused adrenal tumors in animals, though that is disputed by industry and the FDA. It may be contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals and occasionally causes severe hypersensitivity reactions. Yellow 6 adds an unnecessary risk to the food supply.