Walk over to the pantry and pick up any canned good or processed food. Chances are, that label will contain one or more surprises in the way of chemicals added. A can of tuna contains white tuna -- check, water -- check, vegetable broth -- check, pyrophosphate -- no check. So prior to eating that tuna fish salad for lunch, a little research is needed to discover what pyrophosphate is and why it's in this tuna. Reading and understanding chemicals on food labels can keep you knowledgeable about what you're really consuming.
Step 1
Look to the ingredients section of the label. The list will start with the most predominant substance in the can and progress to the least. For instance, the can of tuna lists white tuna as the first ingredient and pyrophosphate as the last.
Step 2
Question any ingredients that you cannot pronounce or do not understand outright. A can of green beans contains the chemical additive salt used as a preservative. However, if sodium chloride was on the can instead, it is still salt -- the manufacturer simply chose to use its chemical name.
Step 3
Look up questionable ingredients on the computer. The Center for Science in the Public Interest website has a reference list of the most commonly used chemical additives in food, as does the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Step 4
Learn the purpose of each chemical additive. Not all additives are bad for us, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some promote better taste, a longer shelf-life and even boost vitamin content, such as in fortified foods. However, some additives, such as acesulfame potassium, are sweeteners that may pose a health risk down the line.
Step 5
Call the manufacturer if your questions remain. Somewhere on the label you will find a questions or comments number and website. Keep the can or food handy as the customer service representative will need the code or reference number off the can to locate the food in the inventory and answer your questions.
Tips and Warnings
- The FDA allows manufacturers to include some chemical additives under the umbrellas of "artificial flavoring" or "artificial colors" without a defined ingredient list.
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