If you feel scared or worried when seeing some of the chemical names that are in your food – that might be chemophobia.
Chemophobia is an informal term used to describe the belief some people have that chemicals are inherently bad and toxic, especially synthetic ones (1). Chemophobia can lead people to distrust certain ingredients or additives simply because their name sounds intimidating or unfamiliar (2).
But the reality is that everything is made from chemicals (1,3). From the rocks in the streets, to the air you breathe, the apple you eat, the soap you clean with, the odours you smell, the virus that makes you sick, and the medicine that makes you feel better, these are all made of chemicals.
The length of an ingredient list doesn’t necessarily indicate how healthy a product is. Some nutrient-dense foods require long ingredient lists to include all the necessary components and meet the labeling requirements of regulatory agencies (2,4).
Additionally, natural chemicals are not inherently better and safer than human-made ones (1,5). In fact, dihydrogen monoxide (water), sodium chloride (table salt), and methyltheobromine (caffeine) are all natural things that have killed people in the past (6,7). It’s not the chemical that makes the poison, but the dose (6).
Similarly, the mere presence of a chemical in a list of ingredients is not a measurement of the product’s toxicity (1). Chemicals found in food are present in concentrations that are safe for consumption (1,8). Plus, regulatory agencies ensure that only food-grade ingredients are used in foods (2,9).
Wanting to make sure what you eat is safe is great, but let’s not let fear or misunderstanding drive our choices (3).
Sources: https://tinyurl.com/SUFChemophobia
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Are you worried when you see certain names of chemicals in your food?
— ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord (@ScienceUpFirst) April 4, 2024
It's good to want to make sure what you're eating is safe, but don't let fear or misunderstanding guide your choices.
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