’)What exactly is in my beer?
Most humans simply are not logical creatures. Even when compared to other animals we seem to be the only ones that frequently engage in harmful behaviors that serve no purpose. When was the last time you saw a cat pushing 120 in his new Porsche? This statement may provide a little clarity to why the most dangerous regulated product consumed by people is the only one that isn’t required to list its ingredients.
Alcohol companies have successfully lobbied to allow their products to not legally be required to list their contained ingredients. Has anyone questioned this ruling over the years? Of course not! Now some may say that it’s already common knowledge that alcohol has no nutritional benefits. I would respond and either does a microwavable TV dinner, but with the latter at least I’m conscious of the sodium nitrate I’m ingesting. Have you’ve ever wondered how these beverage companies conjure up a brew with their desired flavor and texture. With chemicals of course!
You think after 50 people died in the 60’s from drinking beer laced with the foaming agent cobalt sulfate the booze industry would have to list their ingredients. Online you can find out that Miller Lite contains propylene glycol alginate, water, barley malt, corn syrup, chemically modified hop extracts, yeast, amyloglucosidase, carbon dioxide, papain enzyme, liquid sugar, potassium metabisulfite, and Emka-malt. That’s more than just hops, water, and yeast. Only God knows what else they’re putting in there!! Beer has been found to contain lupulin, geraniol, Gum Arabic, dextrin, tartaric acid, magnesium sulfate, cobalt, tannic acid, ammonium phosphate, potassium metabisulfite, and sodium hydrosulfite.
Whether or not these chemicals are harmful to the human body it’s still the FDA’s job to ensure us that we are safe. Currently the ATF is in charge of regulating all alcohol and it’s time someone over their stood up to the powerful corporations. Americans have a right to know what’s going in to our stomachs. Unfortunately voting with our dollars will be much too daunting of a task for most us drinkers because of their greatest ingredient; alcohol. So sit back, pour yourself a nice cold one, write an angry letter to the ATF, than hop in that Porsche and drop it in the mailbox!