A Common Unlisted Food Additive May Induce Food AllergiesBy Catherine J. Frompovich TBHQ is a form of butane gas thats used in welding or portable gas stoves! According to FDA regulations, 0.02 percent of the total oils in a food can be tBHQ. Its used in unsaturated vegetable oils and some edible animal fats too. It also is used to protect food with iron from discoloration. Frozen fish products have some of the highest concentrations of tBHQ. There are known adverse health effects from long term, high doses of tBHQ, one being cancer of the stomach. However, a Michigan State University researcher has devoted her work to finding out how tBHQ affects the immune system and causes T cells to release certain proteins which can trigger allergies to common foods like eggs, nuts, shell fish and wheat. What Cheryl Rockwell, the assistant professor of toxicology and pharmacology at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, wants to understand is why tBHQ causes T cells to release a different set of cytokines (proteins) that trigger allergies rather than triggering normal cytokines. According to the professors research, when tBHQ was present, T cells acted differently. Rockwell claims theres a signaling pathway in cells that seems to play a role in causing allergies when tBHQ is present in food. My question for the professor to research further would be, How does tBHQ interact with other food processing, agricultural and potable water chemicals we also consume that must be processed by the body, especially the liver? That would be called synergistic effects [5], which no aspect of science seems readily interested in pursuing, especially the U.S. FDA, who should be demanding such tests as part of the approval process. I wonder why! Another issue tBHQ may contribute to is behavioral problems. Those who struggle with attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD) are cautioned to avoid it. But how can they, when its not listed on product ingredient labels? Thats where safer and more comprehensive labels and labeling regulations/laws should be required at the FDA. Personally, Id add that children on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also stay away from as many additives, preservatives and sugars, especially low calorie synthetics, as possible. People eating a high fat diet, which includes chips made with oils, obviously get more tBHQ. Heres a listing of foods/products, which apparently contain tBHQ or other petroleum byproducts: Notation should be made that some soft drinks can contain tBHQ, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) [2]. Thats something no one probably considers when guzzling down a cold onethe unknown or unlisted antioxidants in soft drinks! Another questionable ingredient in some soft drinks is bromated vegetable oil found in Mountain Dew, Squirt, Fanta Orange, Fresca Original Citrus, Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange, and other citrus-flavored soft drinks and sports drinks. [3,4] The Loopholes of Food Labeling may help consumers understand more about why some ingredients are not listed on package labels, but that doesnt make it biochemically right for the bodys overall health and wellbeing. Furthermore, consumers need to recognize that we are consuming way too many toxic chemicals in air, food, water, cosmetics, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and booze all while regulatory agencies arent doing very much to protect us. They seem to be corporate lapdogs only too happy to keep approving more and more toxic chemicals. Whats in your food? References: [1] http://miami-water.com/blog/1812/list-of-tbhq-products-petroleum-foods-are-toxic Resources: EVALUATION OF NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS OF INTAKE OF tert-BUTYLHYDROQUINONE (TBHQ) FDA Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives Colors Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies. Her work has been published in national and airline magazines since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting. Catherines latest book, published October 4, 2013, is Vaccination Voodoo, What YOU Dont Know About Vaccines, available on Amazon.com. Her 2012 book A Cancer Answer, Holistic BREAST Cancer Management, A Guide to Effective Non-Toxic Treatments, is available on Amazon.com and as a Kindle eBook. Two of Catherines more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into Whats Probably Making Us Sick (2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process (2008) Catherines NEW book: Eat To Beat Disease, Foods Medicinal Qualities 2016 Catherine J Frompovich coming in Summer 2016 Image Credit If the FDA folks had to eat that which they pass on to the commoner, it would be a different story. Eggo Waffles no longer list TBHQ in their ingredient list, so Im unsure if they contain it or not. 