Glossary of Chemicals Found in Food : You Are What You Eat, From Acetaldehyde to Tyramine

Here is a list of chemicals, harmless in the amounts usually found in prepared foods and beverages, as well as the toxic effects of high doses. It is reprinted from the Winter ’89 issue of “Priorities,” a publication of the American Council on Science and Health.

ACETALDEHYDE (apples)--Mutagen in short-term biological test systems (for example, the Ames test) and animal carcinogen.

AFLATOXINS (nuts)--Can induce effects in humans and are among the most potent mutagens and animal carcinogens known.

ALCOHOL (spirits, beer, wine)--Human carcinogen and teratogen (can cause birth defects).

ALLYL ISOTHIOCYANATE (broccoli)--Animal carcinogen

AMYLASE inhibitors (potatoes, rolls)--Interfere with animal and human digestive enzyme system.

ARSENIC (potatoes)--Human carcinogen and toxic effects observed in humans.

BENZO(A)PYRENE (bread, rolls, coffee, tea)--Animal carcinogen.

CAFFEINE (coffee, tea)--Human toxin and animal teratogen.

CAROTATOXIN (carrots)--Nerve poison in animals.

CHACONINE (potatoes)--Toxic alkaloid that can strongly inhibit human nerve transmission (cholinesterase inhibitors).

CHLOROGENIC ACID (coffee)--Bacterial mutagen.

CYANOGENETIC GLYCOSIDES (lima beans, sweet potatoes, apples)--When chewed or ingested can release cyanide, a human toxin.

DIACETYL (butter, coffee)--Bacterial mutagen.

DISULFIDES AND TRISULFIDES (onions)--Antithyroid activity in animals (see glucosinolates).

ETHYL CARBAMATE (bread, rolls, wine)--Animal carcinogen.

EUGENOL (cranberry sauce)--Animal carcinogen.

FURAN DERIVATIVES (bread, onions, celery, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce)--Many are mutagens in test systems.

GLUCOSINOLATES (broccoli, radishes)--Interfere with use of iodine (antithyroid activity) causing thyroid enlargement (goiters) in humans.

GOITRIN (broccoli)--Antithyroid compound in humans (see glucosinolates).

HETEROCYCLIC AMINES (turkey)--Many are mutagens in test systems.

HYDRAZINES (mushrooms)--Many are animal carcinogens.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (coffee, tomatoes)--Mutagen in test systems and animal carcinogen.

ISOFLAVONES (apples, carrots, potatoes)--Have estrogenic effect (mimic female sex hormone activity) in animals.

MYRISTICIN (carrots, black pepper, nutmeg)--Human hallucinogen.

NITRATE (broccoli, carrots, celery, radishes, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, water)--Toxic in humans. Can also convert to nitrite and subsequently form nitrosamines (animal carcinogens).

OXALIC ACID (potatoes)--Human toxin which can form kidney stones.

PHLORIZIN (apples)--Interferes with cell enzyme systems in animals.

PSORALENS (celery)--Human mutagens and carcinogens.

QUERCETIN GLYCOSIDES (tomatoes, apples, tea)--Quercetin is an animal carcinogen and mutagen in bacteria and insects.

SAFROLE (nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper)--Animal carcinogen.

SOLANINE (potatoes)--Alkaloid that can strongly inhibit human nerve transmission (cholinesterase inhibitor). Can also cause gastrointestinal tract irritation (abdominal pain, diarrhea, or ulceration).

TANNINS (wine, coffee, tea)--Animal carcinogens. Can interfere with human nutrition and cause growth depression and intestinal damage.

TOMATINE (tomatoes)--Interferes with nerve transmission in humans (cholinesterase inhibitor).

TYRAMINE (wine)--Can cause blood pressure elevation in some humans.