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Published on Visualizing Ecology (http://www2.evergreen.edu/visecowinter)

Ari Sigglin

“According to the Handbook of Food Additives, dimethylpolysiloxene is a suspected carcinogen and an established mutagen, tumorigen, and reproductive effector; it’s also flammable.” - 113

I did a Google search of dimethylpolysiloxene. On the McDonalds website, it’s listed in seven entrees as an “anti-foaming agent.”
(http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.categories.ingredients.index.html)
I suppose I’d rather get cancer and burst into flames than having my Chicken Selects foam up or effervesce for whatever reason. However, looking up dimethylpolysiloxene on Wikipedia, it redirects you to Polydimethylsiloxane. I’m not clear whether they’re the same thing, though Polydimethylsiloxane is “non-toxic and non-flammable.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polydimethylsiloxane) Upon further reading, Polydimethylsiloxane is found in Silly Putty, cosmetics, and was once a filler fluid in breast implants. I’m guessing a toned-down version of Polydimethylsiloxane is allowable in my Chicken Selects, McNuggets, Fish Fillet, what have you. It’s a strange juxtaposition of contradicting materials though. For one, Wikipedia claims that PDMS is non-toxic (if indeed PDMS is the same thing as the dimethylpolysiloxene that Pollan mentions), but for some reason was discontinued as a breast implant fluid filler due to “safety concerns.” But again, it’s used in knuckle replacement implants. It’s also non-flammable, which definitely does not match Pollan’s accusations. Wiki does mention the use of PDMS as a food additive, as the “anti-foaming agent” relieves bloating and it used in Gas-X (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-foaming_agent).

Obviously, Pollan’s crutch is the suspicion over dimethylpolsiloxene, and the most likely pending study over the additive. On the EPA website (again, doing a rough Google search of dimethylpolysiloxane), amendments were mentioned in the use of DPMS/PDMS:
“This regulation amends an existing exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance for residues of dimethylpolysiloxane; when
used as an inert ingredient in or on growing crops, and when applied to
raw agricultural commodities after harvest. Wacker Silicones
Corporation, submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996
requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This
regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level
for residues of dimethylpolysiloxane.”
I am not disagreeing with the illogical use of such chemical in food, however, I believe Pollan does construe things to his advantage; in other words, he’s bias. But for a good reason. Would I really condone the use of a chemical found in Gas-X and Silly Putty?





shaun libman › [0]

Source URL:
http://www2.evergreen.edu/visecowinter/visecowinter/ari-sigglin-3