A look at one school’s burger found it had 26 ingredients. Among those 26 components, “it contained disodium inosinate, a flavor additive that can spike heart rate, and caramel color, which contains sulfites and ammonia.” (The Effects of Children) Labdoor magazine explains, “processing carbohydrates with ammonia under high temperatures can produce a toxic byproduct, 4-methylimidazole that has been linked to conclusive and an increased …show more content…
Although it is an improvement, the system still has flaws. American lunches haven’t caught up to their European counterparts. “France banned vending machines in schools in 2004. The European Union has also banned a number of chemicals in food which are still permitted for consumption in the US. These chemical ingredients were banned for their dangerous effects. For example, azodicarbonamide is banned in the UK, Europe, and Australia.” (How Food Companies) Why? It can cause worsened allergy symptoms and can cause asthma is inhaled.
Even if actual fast food is not allowed in schools, that doesn’t mean the fast food companies aren’t infiltrating school grounds. Even Mamavation own founder discovered her son’s school was giving the students a coupon for a free McDonald’s breakfast. It’s a common practice. “So common that companies spent $150 million marketing foods and beverages in elementary, middle, and high schools, according to stats from 2009.” (Unhealthy School Lunches) This predatory marketing has been shown to impact the choices children make when selecting food at