McDonald's announced last week that, as of last August, is has stopped using ammonium hydroxide in the production of its hamburgers. MSNBC reports
that the chemical, used in fertilizers, household cleaners and even
homemade explosives, was also used to prepare McDonalds' hamburger meat.
Here are some list of chemicals
Propylene glycol: This chemical is very similar to
ethylene glycol, a dangerous anti-freeze. This less-toxic cousin
prevents products from becoming too solid. Some ice creams have this
ingredient; otherwise you'd be eating ice.
Carmine: Commonly found in red food coloring, this
chemical comes from crushed cochineal, small red beetles that burrow
into cacti. Husks of the beetle are ground up and forms the basis for
red coloring found in foods ranging from cranberry juice to M&Ms.
Shellac: Yes, this chemical used to finish wood products also gives some candies their sheen. It comes from the female Lac beetle
.L-cycsteine: This common dough enhancer comes from hair, feathers, hooves and bristles.
Lanolin (gum base): Next time you chew on gum,
remember this. The goopiness of gum comes from lanolin, oils from
sheep's wool that is also used for vitamin D3 supplements.
Silicon dioxide: Nothing weird about eating sand,
right? This anti-caking agent is found in many foods including shredded
cheese and fast food chili.
Mcdonalds senior director Todd Bacon has posted a statement in website
"At the beginning of 2011, we made a decision to discontinue the use of
ammonia-treated beef in our hamburgers. This product has been out of
our supply chain since August of last year. This decision was a result
of our efforts to align our global standards for how we source beef
around the world."
The U.S. Agriculture Department classifies the chemical as "generally
recognized as safe." McDonald's says they stopped using the chemical
months ago and deny the move came after a public campaign against
ammonium hydroxide.
The food industry uses ammonium hydroxide as an anti-microbial agent in
meats, which allows McDonald's to use otherwise "inedible meat."
