FDA Bans 7 Cancer-Causing Food Additives Found in Popular Foods/Dracula and Frankenstein

FDA Bans 7 Cancer-Causing Food Additives Found in Popular Foods Under pressure from EWG and other environmental and public health groups, the Food and Drug Administration has banned seven substances used in artificial flavors that have been linked to cancer in animals. “Chemicals that could cause cancer should never have been allowed in our food in the first place, especially not hiding behind the confusing label of ‘artificial flavors,’” said Melanie Benesh, EWG’s legislative attorney. “The FDA finally did the right thing by taking this important step to better protect consumers.” These food additives are most commonly used to enhance the flavor of baked goods, ice cream, candy, chewing gum and beverages. The newly banned flavors are benzophenone, ethyl acrylate, eugenyl methyl ether, myrcene, pulegone, pyridine and styrene.  “Consumers will never know which foods were made with these chemicals, since manufacturers have been allowed to hide these ingredients behind the vague term 'flavor,’” said Dawn Undurraga, EWG’s nutritionist. “This is a positive step forward, but the FDA should empower consumers to make their own fully informed decisions by requiring full ingredient disclosure.”  https://www.ewg.org/release/fda-bans-7-cancer-causing-food-additives-found-popular-foods#.W74QYxNKhsM Story: Dracula and Frankenstein are Friends. By Katherine Tegen