Recently I received a disturbing comment from a reader in regards to my Honey-Glazed Baby Carrots Recipe. Unless a comment is spam, we usually allow comments to go through; however, in this case I am going to address the comment without allowing it to publish. I do not wish to embarrass anyone, so I will leave out any identifying information such as email address, name, etc. Here is the comment:
The baby carrots in the recipe are not clean.
If you leave them out on the counter they will dry and turn white, this is the chlorine that they are processed with while they are turned to make uniform “carrots”.
Because they aren’t baby carrots, they are odd shaped and unattractive carrots; that are basically sandpapered into the baby shape.
Honestly, this is the first I have heard that a baby carrot isn’t “clean” or worthy of eating, and I have to admit that when I saw the comment, I was a bit taken aback. I know that when I leave a regular carrot out (that I have purchased straight from the farmer’s market) it will turn a whitish color after a while, and I know with 100 percent certainty that the regular carrots I buy from the farmer’s market are not “treated” with chlorine. So what gives?
Please, folks, whenever you hear or read information like this, do some research. It took me all of one minute to find an article from Snopes debunking the idea that baby carrots are somehow poisonous. Please read it for yourself: Carrot and Shtick
Remember there is a difference between baby carrots and baby-cut carrots. The recipe I posted calls for baby carrots, not baby-cuts.
More about baby carrots:
Baby Carrot – from Wikipedia
Baby Carrots and Chlorine – from About.com
Baby Carrot Safety – from Prevention.com
Hi there, I have done research on this topic. It is a myth. It is true that “baby” carrots are originally regular misshaped carrots and are shaved down to resemble baby carrots. They are rinsed in chlorinated water, yes, but no more then what is in our tap water.
Here is a link.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260034
Thank you for the link, Jessica! That pretty much sums up what Snopes said on the matter (and a couple of the other articles I linked to).
Also, do notice that even your article points out the difference between baby carrots and baby-CUT carrots (not that either are bad, just different!).
Dr. Mercola had a article on this subject, I couldn’t remember the details so I looked it up. Here’s a link:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/07/28/Chlorine-in-Your-Baby-Carrots.aspx
I’ve noticed you do have to use some discernment when you decide whether or not to believe Snopes on some matters. They will most likely side with large corporations. For example, if you search for health risks from Nutrasweet. Snopes will tell you that reports of adverse health problems from Nutrasweet are a false warning and that it is perfectly safe. A lot of authorities I respect say that artificial sweeteners are downright dangerous. I choose to exercise caution and avoid them.
So, it is possible that Baby Carrots are perfectly fine. Or it could be that those who have a lucrative business selling them are protecting their business interests. I do eat them on occasion. For example at a potluck or salad bar, etc. At home, I usually purchase organic whole carrots and cut them myself, shred them for salads, etc. I used to buy the bagged salad mixes. I could not believe how much tastier the carrots are when freshly shredded at home. A little more work, but I think it’s worth it.
For me it is a simple enough fix to just use whole carrots most of the time. On the occasions when I do have some baby carrots, I don’t obsess over that either.
I’m not telling anyone else what they should do on this matter, just that this is what works for me.
Hi Mary, thanks for leaving a comment!
As far as Snopes, take Snopes completely out of it; there is still another side to this, as shown within the articles I linked to about About.com and Prevention.com, which both quote educated professionals on this subject who are not out to sell anything or on the side of corporate interests. These were only 2 out of many that I found in a quick search the day I wrote this post. I didn’t want to bombard readers with a bunch of article links, but the information is out there from credible sources.
Anyway, I think you’ve nailed it, really. People can either choose to eat them, and other fresh and frozen produce that is rinsed in either the same exact chlorine solution or one similar, or not. They can buy whole carrots and cut them up or they can buy organic baby carrots. However, this “chlorine solution” would be, IMO, no different than running your fresh produce under tap water to “clean” it. And if baby carrots aren’t “clean,” which is what the reader suggested in the comment section, then neither is most fresh and frozen produce.
My whole point with this post, I guess, was trying to point out that people need to do their own research and decide for themselves and not just take one source as “the truth,” not even Dr. Mercola’s word, because in today’s world, there is so much conflicting information that you can’t believe just one source. Unfortunate and sad, but true.
I have been taking courses in science, nutrition, and biology at university. I took a course that mentioned this. It was decided that currently there are no adverse health affects to eating baby carrots but our prof reminded us that it often takes time, years, and lots of researh before this truely can be decided.
I’ll try to summerize how she explained it the best I can. She said that as a population we are always inventing or coming up with new ways to improve out lives. Example of some Plastics containers and ddt just to name a few that would impact our food. These were used for manly years before negative effects where known or found out about. Now we know artifical sweetners are harmful, we see BPA free plastics and ddt is replaced by new chemical. The point is though that these examples took time and research before it was known exactly what was wrong and it’s impact.
Another example to do with the water is comparing soft water (untreated, mostly) and city (treated water). I’m sure those of us that have gone cottaging and experienced untreated soft water will be able to agree that usually one’s hair is much softer and feels healthier after staying a week at a cottage vs. going back home and washing your hair with city water. Our prof explained that it could be years before impacts on our treated water to the population will be known, if there are even any impacts. There is alot of research on water treatment and impact on humans that is ongoing as I took part in some of them. We have a high amount of chemicals that should not be there in our water that has lead to alot of changes in recent generations.
Overall, she summerized that all new introduction to the population are subject to being harmfuln the future or not. It’s a learning curve that comes with the modern population which is looking to improve. Looking at baby carrots it’s possibe in the future that the chlorine used, just like in our city water, will be known as harmful or as years pass it might be very safe. Only time, research, and the like will tell but with limited choices or until newer, improved choices exsist we live within our means.
Hopefully that made a little bit sense. Basically I’m trying to say is that it’s a personal choice of people to make. If your concerned buy normal carrots and wash them thoroughly but otherwise if they say their okay They then it’s fine and I would eat them and see what happens later as I don’t eat them often.
BUT I don’t eat them because the are environmentally unfriendly. They use large obsence amounts of water to pressurize them into the small baby shape. I forget the exact amount but it was shocking enough that I stopped buying baby carrots.
Now that I’ve rambled on hopefully I gave a little information to people to better understand.
That was in regards to baby cut carrots that you buy at the grocery stores in the bags.
Hey Bre,
Great read and what you say makes total sense. Thanks for taking a moment to share your knowledge!