Would you feed your kids a snack that includes ethyl ethanoate, 3-methylbutyraldehyde, butylated hydroxytoluene and linoleic acid? While many Americans would probably balk at loading up lunchboxes with these scary sounding chemicals, they’re actually common compounds found in blueberries. Listing off hard-to-pronounce chemicals as a reason to avoid certain foods has been the basis of campaigns by activists such as the “Food Babe,” to pressure companies into changing their menus. In recent weeks, restaurants and food companies including Chipotle, Papa Johns and Kraft have rushed to announce that they’re replacing ingredients in their foods with “natural” alternatives. But these moves aren’t really making their food healthier. Rather, they’re generating significant unwarranted media attention and creating marketing opportunities to appeal to consumers. Read more.
