Potato chips. Eating them is our guilty pleasure and we are sure it is yours too. But there is something you should know before you go on binge eating that pack of chips... How are potato chips made? Yes, we all know that the ripest and freshest of potatoes are thinly sliced and fried in oil till they turn golden brown. But do you know, to ensure that the packet of chips stay fresh, intact and crispy brown by the time it reaches you, preservatives and chemicals are added to it. While you may think that preservatives are added to all packaged food items and it is fine, you must know potato chips have something more lethal in them, which we should all pay attention to.
Here is a piece of information that will shock you. When you are having your favourite chips, you are also taking in the same chemicals found in the household toilet cleaner. Yes, we are not kidding Why is that? A lot of chemicals are added to factory produced food as well as fruits and other vegetables to help them grow faster. This stops and prevents the growth of bacteria on them. One of the most commonly used chemicals is sodium bisulfite, which is a powerful chemical used in small quantities. The same chemical, sodium bisulfite is also found in most toilet cleaners and household cleaning agents, although in larger quantities. When they are added to chips and other snacks, it increases its shelf life and also prevents the problem of discolouration, which usually happens with food items that are kept in the open. Is eating chips harmful then?

We do not need to educate you about the not so yummy benefits of eating chips. Loaded in carbs and unsaturated fats, they are bad for your heart and the digestive system. Hence, it is always advised to eat them in moderation. Even though sodium bisulfite is considered “safe” in nature if added in small quantities, it can be extremely lethal when added to products which contain B12 - like some varieties of potatoes.

-Always check the label on the back of the product to know the breakdown of how the product or chips were made.

-Make sure you buy the fresh products if at all you cannot stay away from junk food so that you do not eat something high on preservatives.

-If you can, make the healthier switch to sweet potato chips which are also nutritious and offer way fewer calories than the regular humble potato.

Source: indiatimes.com