We all know that processed foods are probably not the best thing to eat, and this is largely due to the preservatives that keep them stable on the shelf. But a new study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that a particular preservative may be damaging your immune system. And the bad news is that the preservative in question is in almost 1,250 beloved snacks, from Cheez-Its to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Coffemate. To see which preservative you should look for in your favorite food’s ingredient list, read on and to learn about another product you should be careful with, make sure you have this bottled water at home, stop drinking now, FDA says.
The new study, published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, used data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxicity Forecaster (ToxCast) to evaluate the effects of the preservative tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ).
TBHQ, which is used to increase the shelf life of a product, is common in processed foods, including Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, Cheez-Its, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Nissin Top Ramen Noodle Soup, Coffemate Liquid Creamer and Dove Heart Chocolates, according to the researchers.
They specifically set out to document the influence of TBHQ on immune functions, including T cells, B cells and NK cells, which can, in turn, affect your immune response.
To make sure you don’t have another potentially dangerous product in your pantry, make sure you have this Quaker oat product at home, get rid of it now, the FDA says.
The study authors noted that these findings are of particular concern at a time when we are dependent on our immune responses as we continue to fight the COVID pandemic.
“The pandemic drew the attention of the public and science about the environmental factors that can impact the immune system”, lead author Olga Naidenko, PhD, EWG vice president for scientific investigations, said in the statement. “Before the pandemic, chemicals that can impair the defense of the immune system against infections or cancer did not receive enough attention from public health agencies.”
To see which drugs can help you with COVID, see This OTC drug can keep you safer with COVID, says a new study.
This study is not the first to question TBHQ. An April 2019 study by Michigan State University found that the preservative can influence how well flu vaccines work, which is particularly timely because millions of Americans receive the COVID vaccine.
And another study by Michigan State University in July 2016 found that TBHQ may also be related to an increase in food allergies.
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To avoid this potentially harmful preservative, Healthline suggests that you read the labels carefully and ignore anything that includes TBHQ, tertiary butylhydroquinone or butylated hydroxyanisole in its list of ingredients. It is important to note that sometimes while the additive is not present in the food, it can be used in the packaging, in which case it can migrate to your food.
“TBHQ, like many questionable food preservatives, is found in processed foods designed to withstand a long shelf life,” said Healthline. “Avoiding these packaged foods and choosing fresh ingredients is a surefire way to limit them in your diet.”
To make sure you don’t eat another potentially risky treat, make sure you eat this snack at home, get rid of it now, says the FDA.