It is amazing how far Snopes will go to protect the reputation and public image of junk food and junk science. They recently dissected a DavidWolfe.com feature on the dangerous ingredients found in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and concluded that his article was “mostly false”
This is just another example of the “fact checkers” not having their facts straight. Snopes did not dispute the presence of such dangerous chemicals as soy lecithin, and tertiary butylhdroquinone (TBHQ) in Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Instead, they tried the improbable tack of claiming that these toxins are not actually harmful.
The ingredients are found to be, “Milk chocolate, (milk, chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, no fat milk, milk fat, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR), peanuts, sugar dextrose, salt, TBGQ and citric acid.”
Emulsifiers, such as soy lecithin, are additives that keep oils and fats from separating. They are used to improve the texture and shelf-life of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Emulsifiers have been shown to cause chronic colitis in mice with already abnormal immune systems. To make matters worse, soy lecithin is frequently derived from GE soy.
Plant estrogens, such as those found in soy, can have profound detrimental effects on a developing fetus and reproductive health. Add to that the fact that the majority of soybeans grown in the US are genetically engineered, and as a result saturated with dangerous levels of the herbicide glyphosate.
The full extent glyphosate’s toxicity has yet to be determined. This is due to the fact there are no long-term safety studies. Despite efforts to suppress such studies, evidence is mounting that an environmental toxicant, especially endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as glyphosate, may be involved in increasing rates of male infertility, genital malformations, and low sperm motility.
Soy lecithin is clearly something you want to avoid. Snopes also tried to brush off the threat that TBHQ poses to your health. TBHQ is a petroleum based preservative that is so deadly that just 5 grams can kill you. It is used as a food stabilizer and prevents the oxidation of fats and oils. This extends shelf-life and is an important component of the processed food business model.
There is no reason to ever eat a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or any of its candy bar brethren. Even without these dangerous additives, these products are terrible for your health. They are loaded with sugar and provide no nourishment whatsoever. The good news is that there are healthy alternatives.
Check out the video below for a healthier version, using coconut oil, of Reeses!
