So, while conducting our leaven purge in preparation for Pesach, we stumbled upon this little revelation! What does antifreeze, corexit and cake mix have in common? You will be shocked: Propylene glycol. If you don’t know what it is…. go here to read about it. Here are excerpts from the Wikipedia article:
Propylene glycol is a component in newer automotive antifreezes and de-icers used at airports. … The chemical makes up 1-5% of the oil dispersant Corexit, used in great quantities during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Corexit has come under scrutiny for probable adverse effects on marine life and humans that are exposed to it. Propylene glycol has also come under scrutiny, as it is the chemical that disperses Corexit and the oil to subsurface depths
If you prefer not to use wikipedia, go here. Or here to the CDC where the CDC classifies it as a “Toxic Substance”. Here is the information from the CDC website:
Summary: Propylene glycol is a synthetic liquid substance that absorbs water. Propylene glycol is also used to make polyester compounds, and as a base for deicing solutions. Propylene glycol is used by the chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries as an antifreeze when leakage might lead to contact with food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified propylene glycol as an additive that is “generally recognized as safe” for use in food. It is used to absorb extra water and maintain moisture in certain medicines, cosmetics, or food products. It is a solvent for food colors and flavors, and in the paint and plastics industries. Propylene glycol is also used to create artificial smoke or fog used in fire-fighting training and in theatrical productions. Other names for propylene glycol are 1,2-dihydroxypropane, 1,2-propanediol, methyl glycol, and trimethyl glycol. Propylene glycol is clear, colorless, slightly syrupy liquid at room temperature. It may exist in air in the vapor form, although propylene glycol must be heated or briskly shaken to produce a vapor. Propylene glycol is practically odorless and tasteless.
So why is it in our Duncan Hines and Betty Crocker cake mixes? Apparently the FDA doesn’t see a problem with this being consumed.
Pesach Leaven Search Surprise!
The Pesach leaven search is so good for us… for many reasons, as you see! What a blessing!
Until next time… Shalom!!!
I was unnerved by many of the labels I read. Going back to scratch baking after Feast of Matzah is over.
Crazy isn’t it? We are doing the same thing… getting rid of all this processed stuff! We have a big garden with lots planted already! Back to the basics on so many levels.
I was going to make a box cake for my sons first birthday until my aunt showed me that propylene glycol is an ingredient in the cake mix. I’m absolutely disgusted by this and I will bake his cake from scratch next month,
People need to speak out to these companies about this disgusting additive among others they regularly use. Flood their facebook pages with your comments so others see it too!! Duncan Hines, Betty Crocker, there are facebook pages for all of them. Nothing will change until people say something !!!! Our children should not be consuming this crap!
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