Nutrition News Roundup: Baby Carrots

They are my most guilt free snack to munch on and so easy and convenient to grab on the go anywhere. But with convenience comes costs; and I'm not just talking about the costs at the cash register. 

Baby carrots are made from the crooked disregarded carrots that are good enough to be sold as is. They are peeled and washed with chlorine… which is where all the nutrition hazard rumors begin. Is this hazardous to our health? Could it possibly cause cancer?  


The carrots are washed with chlorinated water with the chlorines concentration between 100 and 150 ppm (parts per million). The chlorine is then rinsed off the carrots with potable water (which may still leave some chlorine residue) 

----WHAT ROLE DOES THE CHLORINE PLAY?---- 

Chlorine is an antimicrobial agent that sanitizes fruits and vegetables in accordance to regulations of the FDA. Since these produce can be contaminated by the farm or factory environment, the chlorine wash is used for our safety to eliminate pathogens and microbes for example- Salmonella.  

----WHAT ABOUT THE CANCER CLAIM?----
 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have not classified chlorine as a threat to its human carcinogenicity. Though you should not drink it since it will kill you, chlorine in very minuscule amounts- as used appropriately to decontaminate produce, is perfectly safe. 
Do not drink it. This will kill you since it is much more concentrated than we can safely ingest. The chlorine in your tap water, baby-carrots, and produce, presents no danger whatsoever. It is used to make the carrots safe for our own benefit.
 
FOR MORE:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260034
http://www.anapsid.org/beauchat.html