With the explosive rise of new and enhanced technology in the chemistry field, ethical and religious concerns rise along with it. Chemists are now able to complete and create items in ways chemists in the past couldn’t have dreamed. The synthesizing of food additives and chemicals versus the use of natural chemicals in the food and agricultural industry has proven to be quite controversial. Viewpoints between Christians, chemists, researchers, and environmentalists vary. The Bible remains the same.

Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor and/or enhance taste and/or appearance.[1] Unlike the past, food additives are a fundamental part of the food system today as they provide beneficial advantages that correlate to people’s lifestyles. They are currently strictly regulated by the FDA.[2]Some consumers have concerns about food additive because they see the long, unfamiliar names and think of them as complex chemical compounds. From a food chemist’s perspective, every additive found in food (regardless of its source or anticipated purpose) is composed of chemicals. But what does the Bible’s perspective on food additives? In Genesis, it is said that humans are given dominion over plants and animals to eat.[3] But did God give humans the right to synthesize and consume food additives such as aspartame, a synthetic organic compound, or rebaudioside, another sweetening compound? God has given humans free will to eat[4] what they wish to; however; it appears that the Bible draws a line defining what is clean and unclean to consume.[5] In short, it is apparent that God delights in His creation, humans, succeeding. If the Bible is true in stating that God is the creator of all[6] in conjunction to 1 Timothy 4:4[7], then the Bible permits the synthesis and consumption of food additives so long as the acts are glorifying and showing gratitude to the Creator (God).

Similarly, the topic of substituting laboratory-made citric acid versus naturally-occurring acid produces a like conclusion. Citric acid produced commercially[8] in the lab by enzymatic action is the same naturally-occurring acid that gives lemons their natural tarty flavor.[9] From a chemist’s perspective, to say that one chemical might be nutritionally safer than another because of its origin probably does not make much scientific sense. The health effects of natural and commercially made citric acid appear to be equivalent[10] and do not raise any new concerns in comparison to food additives previously discussed.

On another note, the world’s top-selling fungicide, Azoxystrobin, has brought controversy to the field of agriculture and biodiversity. Bacmaga, Kucharski, and Wyszkowska published an article in 2015 stating the conclusion of their research on the environmental impact of the fungicide Azoxystrobin.[11] While this synthesized fungicide effectively protects crops by eliminating fungal pathogens, the researchers found that the fungicide often dissipated to various elements of the environment and cause irreversible changes.[12] Most environmentalists and the Bible share the same viewpoint[13] that causing severe, irreversible damage to soil is not justifiable; thus, the use of Azoxystrobin is against the Word. It cannot be that this fungicide was synthesized by a chemist who acted to glorify the Lord, knowing that the Azoxystrobin would irreversibly damage soil. God gave humans the task of caring for the land. The contrary, causing irreversible damage to it, action(s) is sinful.

The Holy Word does not change as the field of chemistry and the technology in it continues to change. Food additives and fungicides are continually being enhanced and invented. The Bible stands firm in stating that God is the creator of all and He has given Humans free will to be obedient in His law, to be good stewards of the land. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; therefore, it is our responsibility to change in response to an understanding of God’s expectation for us.

 

[1] Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, International Food Information Council (IFIC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Food Additives & Ingredients – Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives & Colors.” U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Nov. 2004, http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm094211.htm.

[2] Federal regulations require evidence that each substance is safe at its intended level of use before it may be added to foods. Furthermore, all additives are subject to ongoing safety review as scientific understanding and methods of testing continue to improve. (Food Safety, 2004)

 

[3] Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” (ESV)

[4] Genesis 2:16 “And the Lord God commanded then man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.” (ESV)

[5] The book of Deuteronomy (Chapter 14 specifically) (ESV)

[6] Christians believe God created atoms, molecules, and all the laws that govern reactions. He created the science of chemistry.

[7] For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

[8] “It is commercially produced mainly by SmF of sucrose or molasses-based media.” (Kubicek and Rhor, 1989)

[9] Penniston, Kristina L., Nakada, Stephen Y., Holmes, Ross P., & Assimos, Dean G. (2008). Quantitative assessment of citric acid in lemon juice, lime juice, and commercially-available fruit juice products. Journal of Endourology, 22(3), 567-70.

[10] (Penniston, Kristina. 2008)

[11] Horan, Anne. “Organic Chemistry Contributing to Food Production.” Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015, http://www.rsc.org/Membership/Networking/InterestGroups/OrganicDivision/organic-chemistry-case-studies/organic-chemistry-food-production.asp.

[12] (Horan, Anne. 2015)

[13] Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” (ESV)