Foods With EDTA

Ethylene diaminetetra acetic acid, or EDTA, removes heavy metals from the body. EDTA is a compound made up of amino acids which binds up the heavy metals in the plaque in the bloodstream. The body then dissolves the bound metals trapped in the plaque and everything is filtered out in the kidneys and then it is all flushed from the body. There are, however, different versions of EDTA designed for specific purposes. There are industrial grade, pharmaceutical grade and food grade types of EDTA. Food grade EDTA is used as a supplement when added to food and is approved by the American Heart Association as a method for removing heavy metals from the body.

Drinks

• EDTA as a food additive is used in various drinks during the processing phase to achieve specific results. It is used primarily in milk, soft drinks and beer. EDTA preserves the flavor of whole milk and stops canned condensed milk from becoming thick. In soft drinks, EDTA maintains the desired flavor and the perfect amount of carbonation, and in beer, EDTA stops a potential problem with the brewing known as gushing. Gushing is when beer becomes fizzy or effervescent and this will ruin the product if it is not controlled.

Beans

• In the food processing industry, EDTA sequesters or segregates heavy metals so they will not react with enzymes in the food. In canned beans, EDTA is used to eliminate the taste of metal that could have been added during processing, or from the can itself. Some examples of canned beans with EDTA as an ingredient include white beans, red kidney beans, and black-eyed peas.

Dressings and Spreads

• EDTA is added to mayonnaise, sauces, salad dressing and spreads for sandwiches for several reasons. It is used to increase the shelf life, maintain flavor and control unwanted odors. Metal ions like copper and iron are a problem in dressings and sauces like mayonnaise, margarine and salad dressing because they will degrade the fats and oils, which then alters the flavor of the product and makes it unpalatable and unusable. When EDTA is added as the product is made, it will bind the metals so they are no longer able to react and create problems.