Azodicarbonamide with the E number E927
What should I eat on My American Road Trip?
After reading an article in USA Today,
“Subway: ‘Yoga mat’ chemical almost out of bread.”
I just had to find out more, so here are my findings
What do Mac Donald’s say?
Do your buns contain the same chemicals used to make yoga mats?
The ingredient in question is azodicarbonamide (ADA) and it is sometimes used by bakers to help keep the texture of their bread consistent from batch to batch. For that reason, it is used in most of the buns and rolls we use for our burgers and sandwiches. However, it’s not in our artisan bun, which is used in the Bacon Clubhouse Sandwiches.
There are varied uses for azodicarbonamide, including in some non-food products, such as yoga mats. As a result, some people have suggested our food contains rubber or plastic, or that the ingredient is unsafe. It’s simply not the case. Think of salt: the salt you use in your food at home is a variation of the salt you may use to de-ice your sidewalk. The same is true of ADA — it can be used in different ways.
What Does the World Health Organisation Say?
The WHo admits that
Case reports and epidemiological studies in humans have produced abundant evidence that azodicarbonamide can induce asthma, other respiratory symptoms, and skin sensitization in exposed workers. Adverse effects on other systems have not been studied.
What about Mac Donald’s Argument?
Azodicarbonamide as a blowing agent in plastics has been banned in the European Union since August 2005 for the manufacture of plastic articles that are intended to come into direct contact with food, so the EU thinks it is not safe to come into contact with food. As a food additive, azodicarbonamide is not authorised for use in Australia and the European Union. In the United States, azodicarbonamide has generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status and is allowed to be added to flour at levels up to 45 ppm.
If like me you always need to check “facts” here is a link to The EU COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2004/1/EC of 6 January 2004
Like Everything In Life
Like everything in life “you pays your money, you takes your choice.” But I think I would rather eat Subway over MacDonalds. Although I do have the odd Big Mac in the UK, where it is safe to eat without the Yoga Mat. But I still don’t like the sloppy buns.
Any advice on What should I eat on My American Road Trip?