What are some of the foods containing benzyl alcohol

There are many type of foods containing benzyl alcohol that are consumed by human beings. Benzyl alcohol is a common additive found in some artificial flavoring and preserving agents, like vanilla extract and ethanol. Because of its wide-spread use, hard to imagine how you can avoid such food items that may contain benzyl alcohol.

Some foods containing benzyl alcohol are:

1.Apricots

This is one of the foods containing benzyl alcohol that is commonly consumed by human being. Apricots are sweet, aromatic and a little bit bitter, but it is generally thought to be good for health. It is a staple food for the people of the Mediterranean and South-East Asia. Up to 80% of theApricot kernels in the market are covered with benzyl alcohol. 1-2 teaspoons of apricot kernels contain about 0.5g/100g of benzyl alcohol that is allowed by law to be consumed each day. 2-3 apricot kernels contain up to 1g/100g of benzyl alcohol that is allowed by law to be consumed daily.

2.Bread

Bread is a common food type in the world. The amount of benzyl alcohol that is allowed in bread is 0.1% of the weight of the flour, or about 0.5% of the weight of all bread products, including pita bread, tortillas and bagels. Bread that contains more than this amount has been attacked by regulators who are raising health concerns and banning it from sale

3.Cheese (Gouda)

Cheese is an essential part of everyday meals for many people around the world throughout different ages and cultures. Gouda cheese, for example, is a type of cheese containing benzyl alcohol. 0.3% of the weight of the Gouda cheese is allowed in accordance with law to be consumed every day by human being.

4.Cocoa Powder

Cocoa powder is one of the foods that have benzyl alcohol that does not have many health benefits and should be avoided for excessive consumption. If a person consumes 500g of cocoa powder per day, theoretically he or she will be consuming about 4mg/kg (270mg/day) if benzyl alcohol is present in it. This amount is above the recommended daily limit. Whereas the recommended amount of quinolinate to be consumed in a day is about 20mg/kg of body weight with the chance of toxicity for people with high blood pressure.

5.Coffee (coffee beans)

Coffee beans are roasted and ground coffee beans that contain benzyl alcohol in their shell. 0.1% of the weight of this product is allowed by law to be consumed every day by human being. Coffee with less than 0.05% benzyl alcohol per it cannot be included into Mediterranean diet such as Mediterranean-style coffee or Italian espresso, which are often served after a meal when a person consumes two or more cups per day.

6.Confectionery Products

Confectionery products are essentially sweet food products like candies, chocolate candies, jellies and marshmallows that also contain benzyl alcohol in them. 0.1% of the weight of confectionery products is allowed by law to be consumed per day by human being. Ordinary candy contains a lot of sugar, and it is often said that we should avoid excessive consumption of sweets because they may cause tooth decay and obesity.

7.Crab

Crab is a delicious food for many people in the world. Crab contains about 0.1-0.8% of benzyl alcohol that is allowed by law to be consumed daily by human being.

8.Cream (Heavy Cream)

Heavy cream is the thick layer of cream that is found at the top of milk when it has been left to stand for a long period of time. This is one of the foods that have benzyl alcohol as an additive that must be considered before consumption. Heavy cream contains 0.1% of benzyl alcohol per 100 grams in accordance with law that allows a person to consume 0.3g/kg (1g/kg) per day daily, which is about 0.07ml/kg for a 200-pound adult person and about 0.06mg/kg of body weight.

9.Ice Creams(Vanilla and Chocolate)

Ice cream is a popular frozen dessert for many people. Ice cream products contain about 0.25% of benzyl alcohol that is allowed by law to be consumed per day per human being. There are also many types of ice cream with different flavors, including vanilla and chocolate, which have different amounts of benzyl alcohol depending on the type in question. You should take note that vanilla-flavored ice cream is usually heavier and contains more benzyl alcohol than chocolate-flavored ice cream or other flavors, which usually have less than 0.25%.

In conclusions, foods containing benzyl alcohol should be consumed in moderation so as to avoid the adverse effects that may occur if consumption is excessive.