Mother's Guide to Hazardous Household Substances

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Ionone: An intermediary compound used in the synthesis of vitamin A. Used in fruit and nut flavorings.

—Hazards: Causes allergic reactions in some people.

—Found mainly in: Baked goods, beverages, candy, chewing gum, gelatin, and ice cream.

Licorice: Used as a flavoring.

—Hazards: Has been shown to exacerbate hypertension (high blood pressure). Some evidence of increased spontaneous abortion in test animals.

Mace/Nutmeg: Seeds from the myristica tree are used as flavorings. Nutmeg is the seed itself; mace is the shell.

—Hazards: Affects neural activity. Can cause intoxication and hallucination, abdominal pain, nausea, and stupor. Affects heart beat, respiration, and vision. Some varieties contain safrole, which causes liver cancer in test animals and has been banned by the FDA.

—Found mainly in: Baked goods, beverages, candy, chewing gum, condiments, ice cream, meats, and pickles.

MSG (monosodium glutamate): Used as a flavor enhancer.

—Hazards: Causes brain damage in test animals. Has produced reproductive

dysfunctions in test animals. Causes female animals to conceive less fre quently and to have smaller litters. There is evidence that it produces learn ing impairment in rats. It is thought responsible for "Chinese restaurant syndrome", the symptoms of which include chest pain, headache, numb ness, and burning sensations.

—Found mainly in: Baked goods, candy, Chinese cuisine, condiments, meat, pickles, and soup.

Quinine: Made from the bark of the cinchona tree, it is used as a bitter flavoring.

—Hazards: Cinchonism produces nausea, hearing loss, vision impairment, and vomiting. Fetuses of test rabbits have shown hearing damage. Allergic reactions cause skin rashes.

—Found mainly in: Tonic water, bitters, and fruit beverages.

Saccharin: The most commonly used calorie-free sweetener. —Hazards: Is a demonstrated animal carcinogen.

—Found mainly in: Dietetic foods.

Sassafras: Used as a flavoring and topical anesthetic.

—Hazards: Contains safrole, which has caused liver cancer in test animals. Banned by the FDA.

—Found mainly in: Home concoctions. Its commercial use is prohibited.

Shellac: Confectioner's glaze. A food-grade version of the furniture finish.

—Hazards: Is untested.

—Found mainly in: Baked goods, candy, and some fruits.

Smoke flavor: Condensate from burning hickory or maple wood.

—Hazards: There are a number of carcinogens present in woodsmoke. Benzo(a)pyrene is removed from the commercial products, but other cancer-causing substances may remain. Probably less dangerous than natural woodsmoking.

—Found mainly in: Baked beans, barbecue sauces, cheese, fish, and meats. Sodium chloride: Table salt.

—Hazards: Causes hypertension (high blood pressure). Infants may not be able to excrete salt effectively.

—Found mainly in: Table salt and salted foods.

Tannin: Used for its astringent taste.

— Hazards: Has caused tumors and death in test animals.

—Found mainly in: Baked goods, candy, and ice cream.

Xylitol: A wood sugar that does not increase blood sugar as much as glucose does. Seems to be effective in lessening dental caries.

—Hazards: A diuretic. Causes tumors and organ damage in test animals.

Undergoing further testing, with voluntary suspension of use.

— Found mainly in: Sugarless chewing gum.

Kitchenware

Utensils used in the kitchen are not directly under the FDA's jurisdiction, but the agency has stepped in where there has been suspicion of contamination of food by such products. So far, such regulation has been largely a matter of investigation; only lead glazes on earthenware are watched closely by the FDA.

Pots and Pans

Aluminum: Cast into uncoated pots and pans.

Hazards: High concentrations produce memory loss and brain deterioration. Evidence shows an association with Alzheimer's disease (senility). May bind phosphorus and calcium, leading to deficiencies.

Copper: Used to make uncoated pots and pans. Brass also contains copper.

—Hazards: Toxic at high concentrations. Depletes the body of zinc. Persons with Wilson's disease should avoid its use. Acid-containing foods can leach copper from the utensil.

Earthenware: Pottery coated with glazes.

— Hazards: Lead and cadmium may be leached from the glazes by acid-containing foods. Some glazes may crack or craze, releasing material into food. Lead causes brain damage, blindness, and mental retardation. Children absorb four times as much as adults do per unit ingested. Cadmium causes abdominal pain, vomiting, anemia, kidney dysfunction, diarrhea, and pneumonia (if inhaled).

Enamel coatings: The best coatings are made with tin oxide; less expensive products are made with antimony oxide.

—Hazards: Antimony oxide glazes can chip off and form tartar emetic, which is mildly toxic.

Iron: Contributes essential iron to the diet of most people.

—Hazards: People with hemochromatosis (the inability to process iron) should avoid its use.

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