Is common food additive to blame for rising rates of bowel disease?

reports a new study conducted on rats and published Wednesday as a “Research Letter” in the journal Nature found that the emulsifiers carboxymethylcellulose, also called cellulose gum, and polysorbate 80 “promotes inflammatory bowel disease and a cluster of obesity-related diseases known as metabolic syndrome.” Researchers found that the substances, when fed to rats, “induced low-grade inflammation, increased weight gain and fat deposition, caused worrisome changes in metabolic function,” promoted strains of gut bacteria that promote inflammation, inhibited strains that prevent the process, and eroded the mucous membrane that lines the gut. The emulsifiers are widely used in processed foods and pharmaceuticals. these–and many other–food additives are inadequately tested by the” Food and Drug Administration . They keep ingredients—often oils and fats—from separating. They are also used to improve the texture and shelf-life of many foods found on supermarket shelves, from ice cream and baked goods, to salad dressings, veggie burgers, non-dairy milks, and hamburger patties. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-metabolic-bowel-emulsifiers-20150225-story.html