There’s nothing that makes me more angry than when food companies create products with highly addictive chemicals, and fill them with the absolute worst ingredients linked to health problems. That’s why I had to share the truth with you about Takis. If you haven’t heard of Takis, I bet your kids have. Check out these comments I saw on social media…
“I see 6 year olds eating this for breakfast”
“My high school students eat these A LOT! I’ve been telling them how bad they are for their health”
“My last year of teaching…it seemed like half the high school walked in every morning with Takis for breakfast”
Whoa! So many kids eat Takis, even for breakfast.
I admit I’ve never tried Takis, but I hear they’re extremely spicy chips that are very addicting. That’s no surprise when you look at the ingredients…
That Taki “seasoning” is spiked with MSG 3 times!
There are 3 forms of MSG in Takis:
- MSG (monosodium glutamate)
- Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
- Yeast Extract
It’s awful that they add MSG because this entices you (and your kids) to eat more Takis…and the next thing you know you’re inhaling handfuls of artificial dyes and unhealthy processed ingredients. MSG is added to make you crave Takis, so you keeping eating and eating and eating their product. There is simply no other reason for food companies to use MSG. I don’t like to eat products that trick my brain into craving them, and I especially don’t want to give snacks with MSG to my kids.
MSG is linked to weight gain.
It’s been shown that MSG can help you gain weight, even if you don’t eat more calories. (1) This is why MSG is fed to rats in animal studies to make them obese!
Takis are also spiked with added “Flavors” that make you crave their product.
The natural and artificial flavor chemicals that flavor manufacturers engineer are contributing to what David Kessler (former head of the FDA) calls a “food carnival” in your mouth. (2) The inability to stop eating because the flavors they have synthesized trick your mind into wanting more and more. They don’t want you to have the full essence of a taste – they want you to only experience the best 1 millionth part of the taste – so you keep having to go back for more and more, continuously searching for gratification. (2)
These ingredients are hijacking your taste buds one by one! This is why I try to avoid products with “Natural Flavors” or “Artificial Flavors” added.
In America, Takis contain Artificial Colors and TBHQ.
Artificial colors are one of the Terrible 10 Ingredients In Children’s Food in my new book, Food Babe Family. That’s because artificial colors come with so many health risks and are in a lot of foods that parents buy for their kids. Artificial colors (like Red 40 and Yellow 6) require a warning label in Europe that states they cause hyperactivity in children. (1) This is why most foods in Europe don’t contain them! Artificial colors have also been shown to disrupt the immune system. Any product with artificial colors in it is an automatic NO GO in my house. I’m teaching my kids how to spot artificial dyes and why we don’t want to eat them.
Another major ingredient to avoid is TBHQ. This preservative may increase the risk of food allergies. Scientific research has shown that TBHQ negatively affects “T-cells” in the body (which are generally used to fight infections) in a way that promotes allergies to tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat and shellfish. It’s banned for use in food in other countries including Japan. (1)
Takis in Europe WITHOUT Artificial Colors or TBHQ!
They color Takis naturally with Paprika Extract in Spain. (3) They also don’t use TBHQ. Which begs the question, why do they continue to use these ingredients in the U.S. if they aren’t necessary? The other ingredients in Takis in Spain are horrible too, but this just goes to show that they could use better ingredients if they wanted to.
BEWARE: Takis are very acidic, which can lead to stomach issues if you eat too many.
The FDA has a database (4) with reports of people who ate Takis and later received treatment for…
- Stomach Pain
- Nausea
- Throat Pain
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Ulcers
A teen girl who regularly ate bags of spicy Takis had emergency gallbladder surgery.
In one shocking case, a 17-year old girl in Memphis had her gallbladder removed, which her mother believes was due to eating too many Takis and spicy chips. She was eating “big bags and would take them to school with her” before her stomach problems started. Dr. Cary Canvender at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital also believes eating too many Takis probably contributed to her gallbladder removal. He said they see a lot of kids with stomach problems after eating spicy chips: “We do see tons of gastritis and ulcer-related stuff due to it… We probably see around 100 kids a month, easily.” (5)
Want healthy snack ideas for your kids?
I filmed a 20-minute video on all the healthy snacks I keep in my pantry and to-go bag for when we are heading out the door. To watch the video, pre-order my new book Food Babe Family and enter your receipt number here. The bonus video and snack guide will get emailed to you TODAY. This bonus video is only going to be available for a very limited time, so make sure to get your order in now.
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Please share this post to spread the word about Takis. Every parent needs to know the truth.
Xo,
Vani
References:
- https://foodbabe.com/ingredients-to-avoid/
- https://foodbabe.com/the-differences-between-artificial-flavors-natural-flavors-organic-flavors-and-other-added-flavors/
- https://www.compraonline.alcampo.es/products/Rollitos-de-ma%C3%ADz-crujientes-sabor-lima-picante-TAKIS-Hot-140-g/25695
- https://www.fda.gov/food/compliance-enforcement-food/cfsan-adverse-event-reporting-system-caers#files
- https://wreg.com/news/memphis-mother-says-hot-chips-to-blame-for-daughters-gallbladder-removal/
If this toxic garbage masquerading as food wasn’t bad enough already, there is a well-known pedophilia symbol on the packaging: the spiral over the “i.” Not only do they poison our children, but feel the need to mock us as well.