June 23, 2020
You have surely heard of black ice cream, charcoal burger, charcoal pasta, and the like. It was the hottest trend for some time (it still is). Every food company started giving their products a goth makeover. So, here are the questions. How is it black? Is it safe?
No, it is not some type of food colouring. As a matter of fact, it has been infused with activated carbon or activated charcoal. Activated carbon is different from the charcoal you would use for your barbeque. It is made from organic carbon-rich materials such as bamboo or coconut shells which are activated by burning under high temperatures and made into powder.
Summarising the chemistry behind it, activated carbon bonds with toxins and chemicals to prevent them from being absorbed into the body. It is widely used to treat poisoning and drug overdoses. Quite commonly used in water filtering systems, toothpaste, shampoo, and other cleansing products, activated charcoal is not something new.
However, the idea of introducing it into the food industry must have been uncanny at first. I can’t imagine myself putting a piece of charcoal in my mouth. Nevertheless, the exotic appearance of charcoal foods appeal to many (myself included). Ingesting activated carbon has no severe adverse effects on the body. A few reported side effects from using it for medical purposes include nausea, vomiting and constipation.
Some health benefits are said to be improved kidney function and reduced cholesterol level since the activated carbon can bind to waste products and cholesterol, flushing them out of the body. There is little scientific study to support not only this, but also the effectiveness of activated carbon in the chemical industry.
One important thing to note about activated carbon is that it hinders the function of other prescription medication you might be taking, especially contraceptive pills. It is advised to wait a few hours before or after medication to eat any food item containing it. Activated carbon also traps several vitamins needed by the body along with the toxins.
Now you know a little about the food you eat. When it comes down to it, however, there is only one question. Does it taste good?
by iRunOnChocolate
Citations
Levine, D. S. (2017, June 28). Black Ice Cream: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Retrieved January 28, 2020, from https://heavy.com/entertainment/2017/06/black-ice-cream-goth-activated-charcoal-ingredients/
Petre, A. (2017, June 29). What Is Activated Charcoal Good For? Benefits and Uses. Retrieved January 28, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/activated-charcoal#section3
Ross, R. (2019, October 17). What Is Activated Charcoal? Retrieved January 28, 2020, from https://www.livescience.com/activated-charcoal.html
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