A Review on Hazardous Chemicals Present in Junk Food

Junk food may be defined as any food which is low in nutrients (protein, vitamin, fibers) and high in everything else (salt, sugar, fat, energy). It is a food which is easy to cook and serve, after dissolving or dispersing in a liquid. Junk food is becoming widely popular nowadays among youths due to ready availability, taste, and low cost. Foods such as chips, chocolate, ice-cream, soft drinks, pizzas, burgers, and many others in the category of junk food. Mc Donald’s and Burger King are not only fast food industries invading our communities, our minds, and our stomachs but also our health. Taco Bell, Pizza hut, Kentucky Fried chicken are also few others. These industries are successful because they offer consumers a quick, cheap, convenient, and tasty meal that is all too often high in fat and salt content and low in fiber and calcium. Junk food contains many hazardous chemicals. Many junk foods also have transfats. Various chemicals are being used in junk food like PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b] pyridine), a chemical that appears in grilled chicken, MSG (Monosodium glutamate), PAPs (polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters), caramel coloring, sodium nitrite, and sodium nitrate, BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole), tartrazine and other food dyes that are hazardous for health.