Toxic ingredients in McDonalds' French fries

(NaturalNews) Nineteen different ingredients go into McDonald's French fries, including genetically modified (GMO) foods, additives, and preservatives. Antifoaming agents, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavoring, Dimethylpolysiloxane and Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate are all ingredients in McDonald's French fries. Some of the added ingredients in the French fries are intended to add texture or color, but many of these additives are not used in other countries, so the necessity of adding them to the American fries is questionable.

Potatoes used in McDonald's French fries

The Umatilla Russet, Russet Burbank, Ranger Russet and Shepodypotatoes that McDonald's uses in its French fries are mostly grown in Idaho and Washington. McDonald's reports that their potatoes are not genetically modified (GMO).The potatoes are flash frozen after processing, dipped into dextrose to add color and dipped into sodium acid pyrophosphate to keep them from turning gray when they are frozen.

Toxic ingredients in McDonald's French fries

McDonald's French fries also contain canola oil, soybean oil and hydrogenated soybean oil along with a natural beef flavoring that is made with derivatives from wheat and milk, meaning that McDonald's French fries are not wheat or dairy free. Citric acid, a preservative derived from citric fruit, dextrose (sugar), and a chemical to maintain color called sodium acid pyrophosphate, and salt are also added.

The hydrogenated soybean oil contains TBHQ or tertiary butylhydroquinone, a type of butane that can have side effects such as nausea, vomiting and lowered estrogen levels. To defoam the oil, dimethylpolysiloxane is used. Dimethylpolysiloxane is a defoaming agent made from silicone. A silicon-based polymer, dimethylpolysiloxane is an ingredient in the toy, Silly putty.

McDonald's French Fries in Great Britain

McDonalds uses only a few ingredients in the British version of the French fries. British McDonald's fries are made with potatoes, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil and dextrose. The restaurants use non-hydrogenated vegetable oil, however rapeseed oil is known to be made with GMOs. If McDonalds can produce their fries without the use of these additives, it begs the question of why McDonald's uses these toxic ingredients in their American French fries.

Sources:

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About the author:
Talya Dagan is a health advocate and health coach, trained in nutrition and gourmet health food cuisine, writing about natural remedies for disease and nutrition and herbal medicine. You can follow her blog at www.talyadagan.com