UNIT 1: MATTER AND BONDING

Not-So-Comforting Comfort Food

 You hear the uplifting sound of <<pop>>, <<pop>>, <<pop>> coming from your microwave. You crave that buttery, salty taste. That crisp, crunch. You crash down on the couch and turn on the tv, a huge bowl of heaven in your hand. Chemical risks are the least of your concern. But maybe you should be concerned.


 In chemistry class, we have been discussing matter and bonding. This includes chemical properties and changes. These changes can be beneficial, neutral or harmful, but in this case, the bonds formed and broken mean nothing but the worst. Chemicals including diacetyl (2,3 butanedione), perfluoroalkyls and acetylpropionyl (2,3-pentaneodione) are used in such a snack and their concerning properties are as complicated as their names are to spell. Diacetyl and acetylpropionyl are both directly in the food we are consuming and they both share similar risks: respiratory toxicity (Toxipedia) and they are now being considered for posing a risk to the brain and being linked to Alzheimer's disease (Mercola.com). On the other hand, perfluoroalkyl is not an "ingredient" in the ever-so-loved snack, but instead is used in the packaging. This chemical is used to keep oil, grease and other substances from leaking through the wrappers of foods (ATSDR). Yikes, imagine that inside your body! This compound is shown to affect the fatty acid metabolism, the endocrine system and sex hormones (ATSDR). Not only that, but these chemicals in the wrapping breakdown into a substance called perfluorooctanoic when they are heated. This substance has been deemed to be a likely carcinogen and has caused cancer in animals and therefore could potentially cause cancer in humans (Care2). Still loving this go-to snack? These chemicals, when introduced to our bodies, change our matter and our body's chemical composition, and that is nothing but bad news!

 In an article posted by Dr. Mercola entitled "Buttered Popcorn Flavouring Linked to Alzheimer's", the reader is warned of the harmful effects microwave popcorn can exhibit on its consumers and how the cons outweigh the pros. He proceeds to go into further depth and explains the effects and strain such chemicals can have on your body. This article is not the first to discuss this topic, so we should probably start doing something about it... we can only brush off something so prominent in our lives for so long before the complications are irreversible. We can't always just turn the other cheek and continue on with our lives with the mindset of "nothing bad could ever happen to us". You only see those kinds of problems in the news. Right?.. Wrong. My problem with this whole situation isn't just that we the consumers are doing nothing about it, but also that these big corporations and providers STILL continue to feed us such toxins and act like nothing is wrong, even though they KNOW the only true benefit offered is the satisfaction of our cravings. Now how is that right?

 So, what do you think? Should we continue to put such harmful chemicals in our foods or should we attempt to find a healthier alternative... and if so, what are your suggestions?


~ Row