Why does Big Food put harmful chemicals in cereal in America but not Europe?

(NaturalNews) The U.S. has a unique system in place for regulating food chemicals. It's been around since 1958, providing loopholes for companies to sneak through. Initially designed to provide oversight, this system has instead become a gateway for welcoming an explosion of food chemicals, all disguised under one name.

In 1958, President Eisenhower signed the Food Additives Amendment. This law gave the FDA power to lump food ingredients under the approval term "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS). Over time, this blanket term has become a loophole for food corporations looking to make their products cheaper.

GRAS system allows food industry to take shortcuts allowing food chemicals voluntary oversight The GRAS system allows food manufacturers to make safety determinations about new chemicals without any real oversight by the FDA. The food industry is allowed to voluntarily inform the FDA about their chemicals, making GRAS a free-for-all for companies trying to get ahead and take shortcuts. These shortcuts put the health of the nation at risk. Since the law's adoption, over 275 new "undisclosed" food chemicals have been deemed GRAS, and there's nothing really stopping this out-of-control spiral. Additionally, the National Resource Defense Council estimates that "there have been 1,000 such undisclosed GRAS determinations."

While other countries ban these chemicals, the American government allows them to infiltrate every aspect of our food. America is literally poisoning itself and its future, suppressing human immune system function throughout the population, making it harder for Americans to overcome disease. These undisclosed food chemicals are often documented for inciting complications like "potentially serious allergic reactions, interactions with common drugs, or [are allowed for] proposed uses much greater than company-established safe doses."

Toxic BHT plagues America's most popular cereals but is taken out of the same cereals sold to Europeans One such horrendous chemical plaguing America's food supply is BHT, or butylated hydroxytoluene. It's "generally recognized as safe," but research has linked this chemical to the formation of tumors, and in some animal studies BHT interferes with hormones. BHT is considered a "caution" ingredient according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

The Environmental Working Group has sounded the alarm too, categorizing BHT as one of America's dirty dozen food additives. BHT can be disguised under these synonyms: DBPC, ADVASTAB 401, AGIDOL, AGIDOL 1, ALKOFEN BP, ANTIOXIDANT 29, ANTIOXIDANT 30, ANTIOXIDANT 4, ANTIOXIDANT 4K, ANTIOXIDANT KB and ANTRANCINE 8. Research shows that BHT is toxic, and companies like Kellogg's and General Mills know it. That's why they offer the same cereal products in Europe, but without adding the toxic BHT.

America is one of the only countries still embracing this potentially carcinogenic ingredient. Why are these companies putting American's health at risk while offering safer versions of the same food in other countries? Millions of American children are being exposed to this chemical on a daily basis. Products like Rice Krispies, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Frosted Flakes, Wheaties, Cocoa Krispies, Cookie Crisp, Froot Loops and Corn Pops all contain BHT.

A petition that means business has been launched exclusively at FoodBabe.com. Thousands have already signed, demanding cleaner food from these companies and cereal that doesn't contain toxic BHT. If Kellogg's and General Mills can offer clean versions of their products in Europe, they can do it in America.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/048575_BHT_breakfast_cereals_food_additives.html#ixzz3RSARZw8N