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    Aluminum in Food

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    Benjamin Ezra Zabedee Dogo
    Aluminum is a metal that is abundant in the earth's surface, found in rocks, soil, plants, water, and the human body. It is used widely in cookware, food processing equipment, packaging, and some medicines due to its lightweight and resistance to corrosion. Studies have shown that average daily aluminum intake is about 17 mg and increased consumption does not lead to higher absorption in the body or toxic effects. While higher levels were found in the brains of some Alzheimer's patients, there is no evidence that normal aluminum exposure through food or cookware is linked to health issues.

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    Aluminum in Food

    Uploaded by

    Benjamin Ezra Zabedee Dogo
    17 views2 pages
    Aluminum is a metal that is abundant in the earth's surface, found in rocks, soil, plants, water, and the human body. It is used widely in cookware, food processing equipment, packaging, and some medicines due to its lightweight and resistance to corrosion. Studies have shown that average daily aluminum intake is about 17 mg and increased consumption does not lead to higher absorption in the body or toxic effects. While higher levels were found in the brains of some Alzheimer's patients, there is no evidence that normal aluminum exposure through food or cookware is linked to health issues.

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    Aluminum is a metal that is abundant in the earth's surface, found in rocks, soil, plants, water, and the human body. It is used widely in cookware, food processing equipment, packaging, and some medicines due to its lightweight and resistance to corrosion. Studies have shown that average daily aluminum intake is about 17 mg and increased consumption does not lead to higher absorption in the body or toxic effects. While higher levels were found in the brains of some Alzheimer's patients, there is no evidence that normal aluminum exposure through food or cookware is linked to health issues.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    17 views2 pages

    Aluminum in Food

    Uploaded by

    Benjamin Ezra Zabedee Dogo
    Aluminum is a metal that is abundant in the earth's surface, found in rocks, soil, plants, water, and the human body. It is used widely in cookware, food processing equipment, packaging, and some medicines due to its lightweight and resistance to corrosion. Studies have shown that average daily aluminum intake is about 17 mg and increased consumption does not lead to higher absorption in the body or toxic effects. While higher levels were found in the brains of some Alzheimer's patients, there is no evidence that normal aluminum exposure through food or cookware is linked to health issues.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 2

    Aluminum

    Georgia C. Lauritzen, PhD, Food and Nutrition Specialist

    FN 226

    What is aluminum?
    Aluminum is a metal such as iron, tin, and copper, which is found abundantly in
    nature. All metals occur in soil in varying concentrations and forms. They are called mineral
    elements and move from the soil by different ways into plant and animal tissues.

    Where is aluminum found?


    Everywhere. It is about 8 percent of the earth’s surface and the only elements in
    greater quantities are oxygen and silicon. It occurs in nearly all rocks and soil, in vegetation,
    in water, in the air and the human body. All vegetation contains some aluminum, and some
    plants, such as the tea bush, accumulate fairly large amounts. The amount of aluminum in
    natural water varies; most mineral waters or acid springs contain higher concentrations.

    How is aluminum used?


    Aluminum was first used commercially for cookware. It has some properties which
    make it especially useful for cookware. It is lightweight, nontoxic and is easily formed into
    shapes. It conducts heat evenly and quickly, bringing liquids rapidly to a boil.
    Aluminum is also well suited for processing and storing food since it is splinter-proof,
    can be cleaned with steam, is resistant to fatty acids, which is an advantage in handling meats,
    fats and oils, and causes no discoloration or change in the flavor of food. In the food industry,
    aluminum is used in food processing machinery such as vats and piping.
    It is used in processing of sugars, beer, flour, gelatin, dairy products, meats and frozen
    foods. Many frozen and partially prepared foods are kept from spoilage and rancidity by
    aluminum foil. The firmness and color of fruits is preserved by alum, an aluminum
    compound, and baking powders contain aluminum products. Aluminum is also used in
    pharmaceutical industry and medicine. Some antacids contain aluminum.

    Is the dark stain on aluminum pans dangerous?


    The dark stain which can form on the inside of aluminum utensils has no effect on
    food. It is easily removed by boiling an acid product in the utensil.

    What effect does aluminum have on health?


    A great deal of scientific study has been done over the years to identify the effect of
    aluminum on health. There is no known function or requirement in the human body. The
    amount of aluminum in the body is very low and is controlled by absorption from the
    intestinal tract. Increased aluminum consumption does not increase the amount absorbed.
    Although aluminum is carried in the air, little, if any, is absorbed through the lungs. Typical
    meals analyzed for aluminum contained an average of 17 milligrams per day with a range of
    10–100 milligrams.

    Can you get too much aluminum?


    In experimental animals fed large doses of aluminum, no toxic effects were shown.
    There is very little aluminum absorbed from the intestine no matter the amount consumed. No
    toxic symptoms have been shown in humans.

    Is aluminum linked to Alzheimer's disease?


    In recent years, Alzheimer’s disease has been studies but no cause has been identified.
    One study reported larger than average amounts of aluminum in the brain tissue of some
    Alzheimer’s patients. It is not known how the aluminum may get into the brain. There is no
    evidence that foods cooked in aluminum pans or stored in aluminum containers can cause
    abnormally high levels of aluminum in the brain or that aluminum intake should be
    controlled.

    Utah State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution


    Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with
    the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Robert L. Gilliland, Vice President and Director, Cooperative Extension
    Service, Utah State University. (EP/05-95/DF)

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