Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Chlorine on your carrots?

I just received this email from a reader in the Triangle area:

"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 which
are practically plastic? We do hope that this
information can be passed on to as many people
as possible in the hopes of informing them where these
carrots come from and how they are processed. Chlorine
is a very well known carcinogen. Please let us make
this information available to as many people
as possible. If you care about your family and friends,
pass it on."

Well, I pulled the organic baby carrots out of the fridge and shot them a quick email. The corporate offices weren't opened yet to take a call and I'd like to have something in writing if possible. Will let you know what I find out as soon as I hear back.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good to know!

Anonymous said...

This info about cocktail carrots is SO helpful! Again, another food product that proves disappointing. I served these carrots to my kids! I'll be more careful of chlorinated veggies from now on.