Vegetables: Baby Carrots

[snistopher]

My dad sent me this E-mail, which I found rather interesting:

Here is a bit of interesting info, I didn't know.
I thought I would share......

Subject: Baby Carrots

The following is information from a farmer who grows and packages carrots for IGA, METRO, LOBLAWS,etc

The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags are made using the larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a machine which cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots - most people probably know this already. What you may not know and should know is the following: Once the carrots are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in order to preserve them. (this is the same chlorine used in your pool). Since they do not have their skin or natural protective covering, they give them a higher dose of chlorine.
You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator for a few days, a white covering will form on the carrots. This is the chlorine which resurfaces.
At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables?

Chlorine is a very well-known carcinogen, which causes Cancer.. I thought this was worth passing on. Pass it on to as many people as possible in hopes of informing them where these carrots come from and how they are processed.
I used to buy those baby carrots for vegetable dips. I know that I will never buy them again!!!!


Confirmed by http://www.snopes.com/food/tainted/carrots.asp

I think I'll by regular carrots from now on and chop them up for my piggers

[Jasper_Hale]

Wow, I didn't know any of that!

[akstrohm]

This information is false. Yes, baby carrots are made from larger carrots, and chlorine is sometimes used before rinsing and packaging. But this is the same process used in many other packaged vegetables such as the prepackaged salad mixes. Essentially all chlorine is rinsed off; it is not present in carrots in levels anywhere near those that could cause health problems. The white color is definitely not "chlorine coming to the surface" (this makes no sense at all); it just means that the carrot is dehydrated. Any carrot will do that. You clearly didn't even read the link you provided, as it explains much of this. Please investigate these things a little more closely before passing them on.

[snistopher]

Originally Posted by akstrohm

This information is false. Yes, baby carrots are made from larger carrots, and chlorine is sometimes used before rinsing and packaging. But this is the same process used in many other packaged vegetables such as the prepackaged salad mixes. Essentially all chlorine is rinsed off; it is not present in carrots in levels anywhere near those that could cause health problems. The white color is definitely not "chlorine coming to the surface" (this makes no sense at all); it just means that the carrot is dehydrated. Any carrot will do that. You clearly didn't even read the link you provided, as it explains much of this. Please investigate these things a little more closely before passing them on.

You are correct, and therefore I stand corrected. I just assumed (please don't supply the meaning of this word) that the article was factual and that I needn't investigate any further.

Although bringing into light that chlorine is used in the cleansing and packaging of many vegetables is something I feel to be, at the very least, educational. I was unaware of this until I read the snopes article...

[akstrohm]

Originally Posted by snistopher

Although bringing into light that chlorine is used in the cleansing and packaging of many vegetables is something I feel to be, at the very least, educational. I was unaware of this until I read the snopes article...

The chlorine is used to prevent the growth of bacteria that could cause spoilage and disease. There are other ways of doing this, but chlorine is the most widely used and has been shown to be effective. I certainly agree with you that it is always good to be aware of where food comes from and how it is processed.