Nearly 500 ways to make a yoga mat sandwich

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 By David Andrews, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, and Elaine Shannon, Editor-in-chief and publisher If youve planked on a yoga mat, slipped on flip-flops, extracted a cell phone from protective padding or lined an attic with foam insulation, chances are youve had a brush with an industrial chemical called azodicarbonamide, nicknamed ADA. In the plastics industry, ADA is the chemical foaming agent of choice. It is mixed into polymer plastic gel to generate tiny gas bubbles, something like champagne for plastics. The results are materials that are strong, light, spongy and malleable. As few Americans realized until Vani Hari, creator of FoodBabe.com, spotlighted it earlier this month, youve probably eaten ADA. This industrial plastics chemical shows up in many commercial baked goods as a dough conditioner that renders large batches of dough easier to handle and makes the finished products puffier and tough enough to withstand shipping and storage. According to the new EWG Food Database of ingredients in 80,000 foods, now under development, ADA turns up in nearly 500 items and in more than 130 brands of bread, bread stuffing and snacks, including many advertised as healthy. EWG researchers who are constructing the database found that ADA is listed as an ingredient on the labels of many well-known brands of bread, croutons, pre-made sandwiches and snacks, including Ball Park, Butternut, Country Hearth, Fleischmans, Food Club, Harvest Pride, Healthy Life, Jimmy Dean, Joseph Campione, Kroger, Little Debbie, Marianos, Marie Callendars, Martins, Mothers, Pillsbury, Roman Meal, Sara Lee, Schmidt, Shoprite, Safeway, Smuckers, Sunbeam, Turano, Tyson, Village Hearth and Wonder. This synthetic additive has been largely overlooked because it is not known to be toxic to people in the concentration approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration 45 parts per million. According to the World Health Organization, workers handling large volumes have reported respiratory symptoms and skin sensitization, but ADA has not undergone extensive testing of its potential to harm human health. One thing is clear: ADA is not food, as food has been defined for most of human history. It is an industrial chemical added to bread for the convenience of industrial bakers. In centuries past, flour fresh from the mill had to age several months before it could be kneaded into dough and popped into the oven. But in 1956, a New Jersey chemical, pharmaceuticals and engineering firm called Wallace & Tiernan, best known for inventing a mass water chlorination process, discovered that ADA caused flour to achiev[e] maturing action without long storage. The result,

the firms patent application stated, was commercial bread that was light, soft and suitably moist, yet suitably firm or resilient, and that [had] crusts and internal properties of a pleasing and palatable nature. The FDA approved ADA as a food additive in 1962. It is not approved for use in either Australia or the European Union. In the early 1990s, ADA became the preferred dough conditioner of many American commercial bakers as a result ofCalifornias Proposition 65, which went into effect in 1987. This law required California authorities to list certain chemicals in food as possibly dangerous to human health. Potassium bromate, then a common dough conditioner, was found to be carcinogenic in test animals and made the Prop 65 list in 1991. ADA was widely adopted as a safer substitute. Over the years, health activists concerned about synthetic chemicals in food have attacked the widespread use of ADA, but it did not attract nationwide headlines until Hari of Food Babe circulated a petition demanding that Subway, among the nations biggest fast-food outlets, stop using the chemical in its loaves. Subway responded that ADA was safe, but even so, it had quietly been seeking a substitute over the past year. The company pointed out that ADA is found in the breads of most chains such as Starbucks, Wendys, McDonalds, Arbys, Burger King, and Dunkin Donuts. Those other fast food giants joined Subway on the defensive. EWG's Food Database, which is now being tested but is still under development, shows that ADA is widespread in supermarket items as well as fast food. The EWG project is being built on data gathered by FoodEssentials, a company that compiles details about the ingredients in foods sold in American supermarkets. To this data, EWG is adding layers drawn from its research on hazard concerns such as pesticide residues, food additives, and contaminants such as mercury. EWGs Food Database will be the first of its kind looking deeply at the nutritional value of foods sold in supermarkets as well as their potential health hazards and degree of processing. The interactive project is funded by support from the GRACE Communications Foundation, the Brin Wojcicki Foundation and EWGs online community and partners. It is scheduled to be made available to the public in the fall. The database has two purposes: to empower consumers with the information they need to make healthier shopping choices and to put pressure on food manufacturers to clean up the nation's food supply. It draws on EWGs expertise and experience gained in developing online databases that have dramatically affected policy debates and consumer awareness on topics including farm subsidies, tap water contaminants, pesticides in produce, hazardous ingredients in personal care products and home cleaners, and the damage done to public land by oil, gas and uranium extraction. The information detailed in this report on ADA, gathered from FoodEssentials on Feb. 11, represents a snapshot of food market on that date. EWG recognizes that the marketplace is constantly changing as food processors reformulate, discontinue and introduce products. The list of products in this report represents an extensive look at the ingredients in food recently available in stores, but it may not be comprehensive. Shoppers must read product labels to know for certain whether ADA and other chemical additives are in items theyre contemplating buying. The consumers search for healthier food may get easier as the clean label trend in food manufacturing gains momentum. Last month, the trade journal Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery reported that commercial bakers and snack food manufacturers are seeking new, better

ingredients mostly due to consumer demand for better-for-you products with clean labels and no genetically modified organisms (GM0s). Clean label, like natural, has no precise legal definition. Food manufacturers often use the term to mean wholesome, without synthetic and unpronounceable ingredients notably azodicarbonamide. EWG recommends that consumers take steps to avoid the industrial additive ADA in their food. It is an unnecessary ingredient, its use has raised concerns about occupational exposure, and questions remain about its potential risk to consumers. EWG also calls on all manufacturers to immediately end its use in food.

Nearly 500 foods containing azodicarbonamide

Brand Name* Aladdin Bakers America's Choice Amigos Product Jumbo Bagels Cinnamon Raisin Muffin Sandwiches Turkey, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Tortillas Bakery Light 100% Whole Wheat Bread Sandwich Rolls, Wheat Margherita Pizza Jumbo Wheat Hoagie Onion Buns Potato Hamburger Enriched Buns Honey & Hamburger Buns Whole Grain Bread Bagel Filled With Cream Cheese, Original Big Texas Cheese Roll Pastries Flame Grilled Barbeque Chicken Slider Flame Grilled Beef Sliders Flame Grilled Cheese Burger Silders Hot Dog Buns Traditional Stuffing Pasta Caesar Salad Suddenly Pasta Salad, Caesar

Arnold Artichoke Basilles Pizza Co. Artisan Fresh

Aunt Hattie's

Aunt Millie's Bagel-Fuls Baker's Treat

Ball Park Bell's

Betty Crocker

Big Az

Cheeseburger Bread Crumbs Double Fiber Bread Large Wheat Bread Sabor Chocolate Toasted Bread Toasted Bread, Original Apple Danish Blueberry Cream Pastry Cheese & Berries Danish Cheese Croissant Super Cinnamon Roll Cinnamon Pull-Apart Monkey Bread Ready-Dough Frozen White Bread Dough Chicago Hot Dog Rolls Kaiser Sandwich Buns Sandwich Buns, Onion Sausage Rolls, Original Hot Dog Buns 1/2 Loaf White Enriced Bread All Whole Grain 100% Whole Wheat Bread Brown' N Serve Enriched Rolls Deluxe Buns Enriched Burger Buns, Sliced Enriched Hot Dog Buns, Sliced Hearty Rye Bread Honey Wheat Bread Italian Bread Large Enriched Bread Sliced Buns, Seeded Whole Grain White Bread Whole Wheat Bread Castillo Croissants Hot Dog Buns, Enriched Restaurant Style Caesar Crotons Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Cheddar

Bimbo

Bon Appetit

Bridgford

Brownberry Bunny

Butternut Castillo

Centrella Chef M.J. Brando

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Swiss Clear Value Cloverhill White Bread Apple Danish Cheesesticks Garlic Mini Loaf Bread Crumbs Hand Made Pita Dakota Style 12 Grain Bread Hearty Homestyle 100% Whole Wheat Bread Hearty Homestyle Honey Grain 'n Oat Bread Split Top Wheat Bread Split Top White Bread Italian Bread Country Sausge Muffin With Egg'n Cheese Danish Pastries Cheese Honey Wheat Berry Bread Sliced French Premium Bread Wheat Rolls Raspberry Danish 5 Cheese Texas Toast Garlic Bread Garlic Bread Sticks Garlic Texas Toast Onion Rolls White Sub Rolls French Toast Sticks, Cinnamon Sprinkle French Toast Sticks, Original Hamburger Buns Hot Dog Buns Simply Homemade Baking Mix, Pretzel Creations Simply Homemade No Knead Bread Mix, Country White

Cole's Connella Corfu Foods Inc.

Country Hearth D'italiano Day'n Night Bites Drake's

Earthgrains Entenmann's

Essential Everyday

European Bakers

Farm Rich

Fiber One

Fleischmann's

Simply Homemade No Knead Bread Mix, Italian Herb Simply Homemade No Knead Bread Mix, Multi-Grain Caesar Restaurant Style Croutons Garlic Cheesesticks Garlic Dinner Rolls Seasoned Restaurant Style Croutons Strawberry Strudel Stuffing Classics Cornbread Stuffing Mix Texas Toast, 3 Cheese Texas Toast, Garlic French Toast Sticks Garlic Bread Sticks Texas Toast, 3 Cheese White Bread Premium Croutons, Butter & Garlic Premium Croutons, Cheese & Garlic Premium Croutons, Classic Caesar Premium Croutons, Garden Herb Premium Croutons, Italian Seasoned Premium Croutons, Parmesan Ranch Garlic Bread Multi Grain Garlic Toast Parmesan Garlic Toast Texas Toast, Garlic Texas Toast, Pizza Texas Toast, Three Cheese Soft Rye Bread Conchas Fine Pastry Galletas De Huevo (Eggs Crackers) Sandwich Rolls Honey Buns Hot Dog Buns Wheat Sandwhich Bread Hot Dog Sliced Enriched Buns Awesome Rolls

Food Club Freihofer's

Fresh Gourmet

Furlani Gateway Gimbo Gollo Gonnella

Great Value Grissom's Harvest Pride

Seeded Italian Bread Texas Toast Bread Wheat Bread White Enriched Bread Enriched Bread Split Top Wheat Bread 100% Whole Grain Wheat Bread, Flaxseed 100% Whole Grain Wheat Bread, Sugar Free 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins 100% Whole Wheat Whole Grain Bread High Fiber White Bread Hot Dog Buns, Whole Grain Italian Bread Light English Muffins Light Multigrain English Muffins Soft Style 100% Whole Grain Bread 100% Whole Wheat Bread Enriched Large White Bread Extra Thin White Bread Split Top Wheat Bread Whole Grain White Bread Hot Dog Buns Country Crock Homestyle Stuffing Roasted Carved White Meat Turkey French Toast Breakfast Sandwich, Egg, Canadian Bacon & Cheese French Toast Breakfast Sandwich, Maple Sausage, Egg & Cheese Cinnamon Craver's Roll Sausage On A Bun 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Rolls Enriched Vienna Rolls Italian Bread Sliced Hero Rolls Sliced Sandwich Rolls Wheat Bran Sandwich Rolls Delights Honey Wheat Flatbread, Bacon, Egg & Cheese

Hauswald's

Healthy Life

Hearth Of Texas Bread Company Honey Hormel Hungry-Man

Ihop J. Skinner J.C. Potter

J.J. Cassone Jimmy Dean

Delights Honey Wheat Flatbread, Turkey Sausage, Egg & Cheese French Toast Griddlers Muffin, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Sausage, Egg & Cheese On A Muffin Turkey Sausages Egg White & Cheese Whole Grain Bagel Authentic Hearth Baked Garlic Bread Bread Sticks, Garlic Cheese Stuffed Bread Sticks Dinner Rolls, Parmesan Garlic Garlic Bread, Authentic Hearth Baked Garlic Mini Loaf Texas Toast, 5 Cheese Texas Toast, Garlic Texas Toast, Parmesan Seeded Rye European Hearth Bread, Deli Style Seedless Rye European Hearth Bread, Deli Style Kc's Campfire Hot Dog White Enriched Bread White Hamburger Enriched Buns Split Top Wheat Bread Hot Dog Buns Enriched White Enriched Sandwich Bread Healthy Life Wheat Hot Dog Buns Whole Wheat Sandwich Buns New York Deli Kaiser Rolls, Poppy Cheese Danish Classic Pastry Cinnamon Rolls With Icing Cream Cheese Danish Pastry Danish Pastry, Cherry Cheese Honey Buns Stromboli, Philly Style Steak & Cheese Pumpernickel Bread 100% Whole Wheat Bread Asiago Cheese Focaccia

Joseph Campione

Key Food Kid Cuisine

Kroger L'oven Fresh

Lakeland

Lewis Liberty Hearth

Little Debbie Maglio Manischewitz

Mariano's

Bell Pepper Focaccia Muffins Breadstics Butterflake Rolls Cheese Pizza Bread Chefs Collection Italian Focaccia Half Cinnamon Raisin Bread Club Rolls Egg And Onion Brat Bun Egg Dinner Rolls English Muffin Bread Fresh Tomato Focaccia Garlic Bread Ham Swiss Sub Hamburger Buns Hard Rolls Hot Dog Buns Italian Bread Italian Specialty Bread By The Pound Jalapeno Cheddar Focaccia Jalapeno Cheddar Focaccia Muffins Kaiser Rolls Large Kaiser Rolls Marble Rye Bread Olive And Parmesan Chop Block Bread Onion Rye Specialty Bread Paisano Italiano Sandwich Parisian Chocolate Croissant Roast Beef & Cheddar Croissant Rotisserie Chicken Salad Croissant Rye Specialty Bread By The Pound Salami And Provolone Chop Block Bread Tomato Basil Chop Block Bread Walnut Raisin Specialty Bread Wheat Bread Wheat Club Rolls Wheat Dinner Rolls Wheat Hamburger Buns Wheat Hot Dog Buns White Bread Whole Wheat Specialty Bread Flaky Croissant With Ham & Swiss Flaky Croissant With Sausage, Egg & Monterey Jack

Marie Callender's

Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Market Street Butterflake Rolls Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Potato Bread Hoagie Rolls, Unseeded Long Roll, Potato Rolls Potato Bread, 100% Whole Wheat Potato Bread, Sandwich Potato Rolls Potatobred Soft Cubed Stuffing Large Rolls Hamburger Enriched Buns Hot Dog Enriched Buns Cheese Danish With Icing Cinnamon Rolls Bread Giant White Enriched Bread Hamburgers Enriched Buns Hot Dogs Enriched Buns Giant Enriched White Bread Split Top Wheat Bread Pastry Kitchen Cinnamon Rolls Cinnamon Rolls, Cherry Cinnamon Rolls, Original Butter & Garlic Croutons Corn Bread Stuffing, Seasoned Seasoned Croutons Honey Buns French Toast Bites, Cinnamon Blase Bread Sticks With Real Garlic Hand-Tied Garlic Knots With Real Garlic Texas Toast, 5 Cheese Texas Toast, Garlic Kaiser Rolls, Plain

Martin's Marty's

Master

Mckee Mediterranean Pita

Met Foodmarkets

Mother's

Mrs. Baird's

Mrs. Cubbison's Mrs. Freshley's Murry's

New York New York Deli

Kaiser Rolls, Sesame Old Style One Republic Oroweat Cottage Potato Bread Skinny Buns Raisin Cinnamon Bread 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Rolls French Bread Italian Bread Mini Heros Panino Italiano Rolls Sliced Italina Bread Honey Buns Blueberry Perogies Peroguis Aux Bleuets Mushrooms Champigons Perogies, Cherry Perogies, Potato With Cheddar Cheese Perogies, Potato With Cottage Cheese Perogies, Potato With Spinach & Feta Perogies, Sauerkraut Perogies, Sauerkraut Mushrooms Perogies, Sweet Cottage Cheese Artisan Dinner Rolls Artisan Pizza Crust With Whole Grain Breadsticks, Original Crusty French Loaf Italian Bread Pizza Crust, Thin Crust Toaster Scrambles, Cheese Sauce, Egg & Bacon Toaster Scrambles, Cheese Sauce, Egg & Sausage Toaster Strudel Pastries, Apple Toaster Strudel Pastries, Apple Cream Danish Toaster Strudel Pastries, Blueberry Toaster Strudel Pastries, Boston Cream Pie Toaster Strudel Pastries, Cinnamon With Brown Sugar Toaster Strudel Pastries, Cream Cheese & Strawberry Toaster Strudel Pastries, Danish Style Cream Cheese Toaster Strudel Pastries, Strawberry

Palagonia Patriotic

Pelmen

Pillsbury

Potmann's Select Rainbo

Seasoned Croutons Thin Sliced White Bread Raybern's New York Deli Style Philly Cheesesteak Roast Beef Cheddar Melt Cinnamon Rolls, Cream Cheese Frosting 100% Whole Wheat Bread Garlic Bread Sweet Hawaiian Rolls 100% Whole Wheat Bread Blueberry Bagels Bratwurst Enriched Buns, Sliced Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bagel Croissant Sandwiches Croutons, Cheese & Garlic Croutons, Seasoned Deli Rye Bread, Seedless Enriched Hot Dog Buns Everything Bagels French Bread Garlic Bread, Original Garlic Bread, Parmesan Hamburger Enriched Buns Italian Sausage Tortelloni Meat & Fine Herbs Ravioli Muffin Sandwiches, Ham Egg And Cheese Muffin Sandwiches, Sausage, Egg & Cheese Plain Bagels Presliced Everything Bagels Quarter Pound Chicken Sandwich Select 9 Grain Bread Texas Toast, Garlic Texas Toast, Three Cheese Wheat Bread, Split Top Wheat Muffin Sandwiches, Turkey Sausage, Egg White & Cheese White Enriched Bread White Enriched Sandwich Bread Black Bavarian Rye Bread

Raybern's New York Deli Style Rhodes Roman Meal Rosa Bianca Rosen's

Roundy's S.Rosen's

Bohemian Style Rye Bread Brat & Sausage Rolls Enriched Hot Dog Buns French Rolls, Italian Beef Rolls Hawaiian Bread, Pineapple Kaiser Buns Marble Rye Swirled Multi Grain Bread Rye Bread Rye Bread, Caraway Seeds Rye Bread, Unseeded Wheat With Oat Bran Buns Cornbread Stuffing Mix Five Cheese Garlic Toast Blueberry Crumble Breakfast Bread Brown Sugar Cinnamon Breakfast Bread Center Split Deli Rolls, White Cinnamon Breakfast Bread With Raisins Cinnamon Raisin Bagels Cinnamon Rolls Classic Dinner Rolls Deluxe Bagels, Blueberry Deluxe Bagels, Cinnamon Raisin Deluxe Bagels, Plain Hearty & Delicious 100% Whole Wheat Deli Rolls Hearty & Delicious Center Split Deli Rolls, White Honey Wheat Bread Soft & Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Bread Soft & Smooth 100% Whole Wheat Hot Dog Buns Soft & Smooth Hamburger Buns, White Soft & Smooth Hot Dog Buns, White Soft & Smooth Wheat Hamburger Buns White Bread Enriched Bread Enriched Hamburger Rolls, Sliced Rye Bread Wheat Rolls Whole Grain White Bread Spicy Chicken Sliders

Safeway

Sara Lee

Schmidt Select Signatures

Shoprite Simplyaddwater

Bangles Whole Wheat Cinnamon Bread Country White Bread Enriched Cinnamon Swirl Bread Enriched Honey Wheat Bread Enriched Light Hot Dog Rolls Enriched Light Wheat Bread Enriched Round Top White Bread Garlic Bread Sticks Garlic Dinner Rolls Hot Dog Rolls Italian Bread Onion Bagels Poppy Bagels Potato Hamburger Rolls Premium Bread Premium Bread With 100% Stone Ground Wheat Sandwich White Bread Sesame Bagels Sliced Hearth Baked Plain Bagels Split Top White Bread Swirl Rye Bread Texas Toast Garlic Wheat Bread Premium Challah Bread Mix Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly Sandwich Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Grape Spread Sandwich, Reduced Sugar Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Rasperry Spread Sandwich Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam Sandwich Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Strawberry Spread Sandwich, Reduced Sugar Iced Honey Buns Split Top Wheat Bread White Bread Raisin Bread, Cinnamon Swirl Enriched Buns Grill'n Griddle Bread Hot Dog Buns Large, Enriched Bread Texas Toast Enriched Bread, Thick Sliced

Smucker's Snacks

Storehmann Sun-Maid

Sunbeam

Super Bread

Giant White Enriched Bread Hamburger Enriched Buns Honey Wheat Bread Hot Dog Enriched Buns Raisin Bread Glazed Honey Buns Honey Bun Iced Honey Buns Glazed Yeast Donuts Jumbo Croissant Bagels Blueberry Cinnamon Raisin Everything Bagels Mini Bagels, Cinnamon Raisin Mini Bagels, Plain Pre-Sliced Bagels, Whole Wheat Pre-Sliced Mini Bagels, Whole Wheat Brat & Sausage Rolls Extra Long French Bread French Rolls Gourmet Sandwich Rolls Italian Bread Kaiser Rolls Old Fashioned Italian Bread Soft Sub Rolls Wheat French Rolls Wheat Rolls Caesar Gourmet Restaurant Style Croutons Mini Chicken Sandwiches Mini Chicken Sandwiches With Cheddar Cheese Mini Grilled Chicken Sandwiches Puff Pastry Shells Carrot Cakes Wheat Bread White Enriched Bread Enriched Hot Dog Buns Sliced

Tastykake

The Bakery At Walmart

Toufayan Bakeries

Turano Tuscan Garden

Tyson Unger's Vachon Valu Time Van De Kamp's

Village Hearth

100% Whole Wheat Bread Cottage Bread, Wheat Honey Wheat Bread Light 12 Grain Bread Light Italian Bread Light Wheat Bread White Brat Buns English Muffin Sandwich, Canadian Style Bacon English Muffin Sandwich, Egg Whites & Cheese Homestyle Turkey Breast With Stuffing Cheeseburgers Microwavable Hamburgers Stuffing Mix Light Wheat Bread Potato Hot Dog Buns Texas Toast Bread

Weight Watchers Smart Ones

White Castle White Rose

Wonder

Source: Data provided by FoodEssentials as of 2/27/2014. * The original version of this report included Nature's Own because its bakery products used to contain ADA. On Feb. 28, 2014, Natures Own informed EWG that it had removed ADA from its products in the fall of 2013 and has begun updating its packaging to reflect that change. A company spokesperson said, "in a few limited markets, some varieties may still have the outdated packaging with ADA listed in the 'one or more of the following' list. However, the products do not contain ADA." The original version of this report included Target-branded Archer Farms Simply Balanced 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns. On March 7, 2014, Target informed EWG that this product was discontinued in December 2012. The report has been updated to reflect this information. ** Disclaimer. The conclusions and findings that appear on this page reflect EWG's research at the time of publication stated above. In light of evolving market conditions, subsequent product reformulations, and other factors, they may no longer be current. EWG makes no representations or warranties about any of the products that may appear on this page. EWG hereby disclaims all warranties with regard to any of the products that may appear on this page, including express, statutory, implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use.