The Dirty Dozen by Daniel Guardado

BIO

dguardado79270 — 2025-01-28 18:39:46 UTC

My name is Daniel Guardado, I'm a student in Animo Inglewood Charter High School and I'm doing research on The Dirty Dozen. I hope to find information about the use of BHA and BHT and if the chemical is safe to consume?

Article 1 : "The Dirty Dozen: BHA and BHT"

dguardado79270 — 2025-01-28 18:47:39 UTC

The article The Dirty Dozen: BHA and BHT from the David Suzuki Foundation focuses on two commonly used chemical preservatives—BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)—which are found in processed foods, cosmetics, and personal care products. These chemicals are used to extend shelf life, but they have raised health concerns due to their potential carcinogenic properties and other adverse effects on human health and the environment. Despite their possible risks, BHA and BHT are still widely used and approved for consumption in many countries. The article urges consumers to be more aware of these chemicals in their daily products and encourages regulatory change to better protect public health.

5 key takeaways from the article were:

Health Risks: BHA and BHT are linked to potential health risks such as cancer, hormone disruption, and developmental issues, with BHA being classified as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Common Presence: These chemicals are commonly found in processed foods (like snacks, cereals, and chips) and various personal care products (such as lotions, deodorants, and cosmetics).

Regulatory Concerns: Despite evidence suggesting potential harm, BHA and BHT are still legally permitted for use in many countries, raising concerns about existing regulatory standards.

Consumer Awareness: Many consumers are unaware that these chemicals are present in everyday products, making it important to check labels and make more informed choices.

Call for Change: The article advocates for stronger regulations and increased consumer awareness regarding harmful additives like BHA and BHT, and encourages choosing safer, natural alternatives when possible.

Article 2 : "BHA and BHT keeps food fresh, but are they safe?"

dguardado79270 — 2025-01-28 18:50:05 UTC

The article "BHA and BHT Keeps Food Fresh, But Are They Safe?" by Shereen Lehman explores the use of BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) as preservatives in food. These chemicals are commonly used to prevent spoilage, extend shelf life, and maintain freshness in products like cereals, chips, and snacks. However, the article discusses the growing concerns surrounding their safety. BHA and BHT have been linked to health risks such as cancer, hormone disruption, and allergic reactions, though evidence of these risks in humans is still debated. The article concludes by recommending that consumers be aware of these additives, check labels when possible, and choose foods with fewer artificial preservatives when possible, though it acknowledges that more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of these chemicals.

5 Key takeaways from the article are:

Function of BHA and BHT: Both are chemical preservatives used to extend shelf life and prevent spoilage in processed foods like snacks and cereals.

Health Concerns: Studies have shown links between BHA and BHT and health issues like cancer, hormone disruption, and allergic reactions, though the evidence in humans is not conclusive.

FDA’s Stance: The FDA considers both BHA and BHT generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in small amounts, though this designation is under scrutiny due to emerging health concerns.

BHA vs. BHT: BHA is classified as a possible carcinogen, while BHT has not been definitively linked to cancer in humans but has shown harmful effects in animals at high doses.

Consumer Awareness: Consumers should be aware of these chemicals in food products and consider choosing items without artificial preservatives to reduce potential health risks.

Blog Post 1 :

dguardado79270 — 2025-01-28 18:51:15 UTC

According to the first article on people's concerns if BHA and BHT are safe to consume, the study states that in moderate amounts, both chemicals are generally considered safe by food safety authorities like the FDA. However, some studies have raised red flags about potential health risks when consumed over extended periods, particularly in large quantities. Because of these concerns, some people prefer to avoid foods containing BHA and BHT, opting for more natural preservatives like vitamin E (tocopherols) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C) instead.

Blog Post 2 :

dguardado79270 — 2025-01-28 18:51:26 UTC

According to the first article on people's concerns if BHA and BHT are safe to consume, the study states that BHA: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified BHA as a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) substance when used in certain quantities. However, some studies have raised concerns about its potential to cause cancer in animal tests, which has led to calls for more caution in its use, especially for long-term consumption. Some research suggests that BHA may have carcinogenic (cancer-causing) properties, and in high amounts, it can be problematic.

Blog Post 3 :

dguardado79270 — 2025-01-28 18:51:44 UTC

According to the second article, on people's concerns if its safe to consume BHA and BHT, the study states that it's best to avoid it at all costs. BHA and BHT can be found in a variety of processed goods, including butter, lard, vegetable oils, and certain flavoring agents. You can also expect to find BHA in meats, cereals, baked goods, sweets, beer, potato chips, certain kinds of nuts, and most snack products. Basically, most things we consume/eat on a daily basis has BHA and BHT in it. This can be bad since it can lead to bad health risks and can also lead to death if not careful about consuming too much of it. By all means, it's best to avoid at all cost and lean towards healthier food selections.

Blog Post 4 :

dguardado79270 — 2025-01-28 18:51:52 UTC

According to the second article on people's concerns if BHA and BHT are safe to consume, the study stated that the chemical in food can't harm you but can risk health. This risk can even lead to cancer, hormone disruption, and allergic reactions, though evidence of these risks in humans is still debated. Although, the text also states that it's best to avoid it because consuming the BHA and BHT a lot can cause risk to your health faster. Overall, BHA and BHT is not safe to consume for the human body but are only used to keep food from spoiling since its food that isn't finished in a week. Finally according to the studies, the best way to avoid BHT and BHA in food is to steer clear of packaged, processed foods and stick to fresh, whole foods whenever possible.

Reflection ( Question number 1 )

dguardado79270 — 2025-02-04 18:19:46 UTC

The new skills that I developed during this project were being able to get lots of information from articles and by learning new things that are good and bad in this world. This skill will be needed in future assignments in this school year. This would also help in the future in college when I'm doing school work to pass and continue my path. This skill of finding the main points of just an article can also help in other documents and working assignments to do something fast and professionally. Overall, this skill will help me finish work faster and have the main points from the article stand out to understand the article.

Reflection ( Question number 2 )

dguardado79270 — 2025-02-04 18:24:25 UTC

What I learned about my topic that surprised me was the BHA and BHT was not chemically only in food products but also in make up brands. This was bad because consuming a lot of BHA and BHT can cause health risks like cancer which only happens with high consumption of BHA and BHT which people do with foods and make up. This shaped my argument by now being more careful with the choices I have to make with food products and other products that can have harmful chemicals in them. Overall, the Dirty Dozen is horrible and must be avoided at all cost to stay healthy and not risking your health.