Packaged foods can look healthy but contain plenty of hidden chemicals to prolong their shelf life

BODY+ SOUL nutritionist Lisa Guy looks at eight common foods and identifies the chemical nasties we should avoid.

DT Features generic kids eating fruit SOURCE: iStock/Getty Images

MANY everyday foods contain chemicals which are used as preservatives, for food safety reasons or to make them appear more appetising. Here body+soul nutritionist Lisa Guy examines some common foods for hidden nasties and suggests some healthier options.

Apples

Commercially grown apples are often heavily sprayed with pesticides and have more pesticide residue on them than most other fruits and vegetables. Apples generally rank high on the ‘dirty dozen’ list of the most pesticide-contaminated fresh produce. More than 45 different pesticides have been detected on apples. Regularly eating foods sprayed with pesticides has been linked to endocrine illness, learning and behavioural problems in children like ADHD and the development of Parkinson’s disease.

Tip: Peel your apples or buy organic.

Bagged salad

Australians love bagged salad leaves — convenient and healthy right?

Bacteria sticks to cut salad greens more so than uncut fresh leaves which is why retailers wash bagged greens in disinfectant to prevent illness-causing bacteria such as E.coli, listeria, cryptosporidium and salmonella. And the most common method is washing in water and chlorine.

Grow your own or buy whole lettuce to avoid bagged salad that has been washed in disinfectant.

This also extends shelf life so you won’t always know how fresh those salad leaves are. Nutrient levels too are also shown to drop significantly after bagging.

Tip: Buy whole lettuces or greens, tear them up yourself, wash and spin dry. It may take a few seconds more but you won’t get any unexpected nasties. If you do buy bagged salads always thoroughly rewash before eating.

Microwave popcorn

A single pack of microwaved popcorn contains twice as much fat as a Mars Bar and has dangerous compounds which can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers have declared dangerous a chemical compound called diacetyl (DA), which is an artificial flavouring used in processed foods like microwaved popcorn, to give the appearance and taste of butter. It can easily cross the blood-brain barrier and disrupt normal brain functioning which can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Popcorn bags also contain chemicals which produce carcinogenic substances when heated.

Tip: Air-pop organic popcorn in a brown paper bag or a glass dish with a lid for a healthy, quick snack.

Chicken nuggets

Most commercial chicken nuggets are made up of only 50% or less chicken.

Chicken nuggets often contain less than 50% chicken. Picture: Thinkstock

The rest can be made up of corn or soy derivatives, salt, sugars, and other artificial ingredients. Soy protein is used as a filler, which is most likely made from genetically modified (GM) soy beans and is a hidden source of MSG.

They also contain vegetable oil, which usually contains canola, corn or soybean oil, which are the three most widely genetically modified crops in the world. When heated vegetable oil turns into a harmful trans-fat, a source of inflammation in the body and major cause of heart disease and cancer.

Throw in high amounts of salt, some sugar and artificial flavours and colours and you have yourself one unhealthy meal.

Tip: Buy organic chicken tenders, dust in flour, then egg wash, roll in panko breadcrumbs and parmesan and bake in 220 degree oven for 20 minutes. (Make extra and freeze for next time)

Fruit Drinks

There is nothing healthy about these beverages. They contain high levels of sugar, artificial colours and flavours and the small amount of fruit juice in them has been heated and pasteurised for longer shelf life, which destroys any goodness.

Tip: have freshly squeezed juice, preferably vegetable with a little fruit, or 100% bottled cold pressed juice with no added sugars.

Diet yoghurts

Watch out for ‘diet’, ‘low sugar’ or ‘sugar-free’ yoghurts as they contain potentially health-damaging artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame (E951) — shown to worsen insulin sensitivity, promote weight gain, increase risk of Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease.

Tip: Buy natural yoghurt and sweeten yourself with fresh fruit, sliced dates, cinnamon or a little raw honey.

Even bagged salad has been washed in chemical solutions. Picture: Getty

Fruit juices don’t contain any real nutrients like the real thing. Picture: Getty

Frozen chips

Commercial frozen chips are made with vegetable oils and usually from genetically modified ingredients. When heated at high temperatures vegetable oils can turn into a harmful artery clogging trans-fat. Frozen chips also often contain dextrose, a simple sugar commonly made from corn (again most likely genetically modified) which is used in a lot of processed foods to help them brown. Eating foods containing dextrose can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels and unwanted weight gain.

Tip: Make your own chips coated with a little olive or coconut oil before popping in the oven. Better still, use sweet potatoes or buy organic.

Processed deli meats

Ham, bacon, devon and salami are popular processed meats but they contain the preservative sodium nitrite (or nitrate), which is widely used to recent botulism and enhance flavour and colour.

Sodium nitrite is a precursor to a potent cancer-causing chemical called nitrosamines. Regularly consuming processed meats containing sodium nitrite can increase your risk of certain type of cancers.

Tip: Choose “nitrate-free’ meat products from selected natural grocers and butchers. Better still use leftover roast meats and poultry for lunches.

Cakes, doughnuts and biscuits

Those cakes, muffins, doughnuts, creamy biscuits and baked goods sitting on supermarket shelves are laden with sugar, artificial additives, preservatives and packed with trans-fats.

These harmful fats increases your ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and lowers your ‘good’ HDL levels, clog arteries and can increase risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Avoid processed foods containing vegetable oils, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, as they contain trans-fats.

Tip: Channel your inner Nigella or Donna and start baking at home. Muffins and cakes freeze well so you can always have a treat stash at the ready.

Vegetarian sausages/burgers

Vegetarian doesn’t necessarily mean healthy and processed sausages and burgers contain Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) or Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) which are soy-based food fillers, usually made from genetically modified soy beans.

They’re also a hidden source of MSG, which is a known neurotoxin. Traces of hexane, a petroleum-based chemical and potential neurotoxin, can also be found as it is used to separate soy fat from protein, to give a meaty texture.

Tip: Make your own veggie patties with healthy ingredients including lentils, chickpeas, vegetables, herbs and quinoa.

Refined breakfast cereals

Many popular breakfast cereals, often marketed to children, contain 1/3 added sugar. They are low in dietary fibre and nutritional goodness, and high in salt. Not a good way to start the day.

Tip: Unprocessed cereals like oats or natural muesli are high in fibre and nutrients will give kids (and adults) a great start every day.

Originally published as Packaged foods can look healthy but contain plenty of hidden chemicals to prolong their shelf life