Have you ever noticed that alcohol containers have a warning label, but no nutrition facts or ingredients? And that soda containers have nutrition facts and ingredients, but no warning label? I would have thought the FDA required alcohol manufacturers to list at least some ingredients. So I did some searching. And this is what I found:
The TTB actually controls what goes on alcohol labels, not the FDA. Yeah, you've heard of the TTB; the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Wow, nice abbreviation. Anyway, the TTB just announced they are now ALLOWING alcohol producers to label their containers with nutrition facts. And you're smart, so you quickly deduced that; at some point the TTB actually restricted the use of nutrition labels on alcohol. Good, I'm glad you got that too. Now do you think anyone is taking them up on that offer? It's not mandatory sooooooooooo.... no.
In addition to the absence of nutrition facts, there are no ingredients listed on alcohol containers. I bet that is because they don't want you to know there is poison in your alcohol. Don't worry though, I don't mean poison like formaldehyde. Well yes, that is what I mean. Sorry to beak it to you. There is formaldehyde in beer. It's actually an organic compound and is naturally created during the fermentation process. Oddly, formaldehyde helps preserve the beer. Lucky you. And more lucky you, because some manufacturers happily add in a little extra to maximize shelf life. And they are not required to report it. Oh my liver! So while your vital organs are trying their hardest to process one poison (you know, the alcohol itself), they are also trying to process a handful of other possible carcinogens. Perfect.
Another fun fact; formaldehyde was only recently added to the list of carcinogens by scientists in 2011.
So next time you go out and throw back a few wobbly pops, are you going to feel safe? Probably not. But I'm sure that won't stop you from drinking. If this is the case, at least go look for a German beer. Ze Germans require their beers to be labeled with ingredients. AND interestingly enough, you won't find anything in real German beer besides malt, hops, yeast and water.. Zat is be-cose, off ze German Beer Law of 1526 yah?! Cheers to birth defects, health problems and the AATTATB. Now go drink some vegetable juice!
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