Food preservatives used in popular foods may harm immune system, new study finds

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A food preservative used to extend the shelf life of Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, Cheez-Its and almost 1250 other popular processed products food can harm the immune system, a new study suggests.

The results showed that the preservative tert-butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, has been shown to damage the immune system both in animal tests and in non-animal tests known as high in vitro toxicology tests. debit.

TBHQ is a ubiquitous preservative in processed foods. It has been used in food for many decades and does nothing other than increase the shelf life of a product.

Using new results from unrealized tests, the team found that TBHQ affects proteins in immune cells at doses similar to those that cause damage in traditional studies.

“The pandemic has drawn the attention of the public and scientists to environmental factors that can impact the immune system,” said researcher Olga Naidenko of the US-based Environmental Working Group.

“Before the pandemic, chemicals that could interfere with the immune system’s defense against infection or cancer did not receive sufficient attention from public health agencies. To protect public health, this must change, ”added Naidenko.

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For the study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the researchers used data from the Environmental Protection Agency‘s Toxicity Forecaster, or ToxCast, to assess the health risks of the most common chemicals added to foods, as well as the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, which can migrate to foods from packaging.

They analyzed all publicly available studies that show how PFAS migrate to food from packaging materials or processing equipment.

Previous studies have shown that TBHQ may influence how well flu shots work and may be linked to an increase in food allergies.

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