The Problem with Church Treats

I know I wont make any friends by saying this and I might even make some enemies. So, why am I picking a battle with church treats? Because I care. I am a concerned mother who doesn’t like to have my children drugged with red dye 40 and high fructose corn syrup just because I want them to learn primary songs and go to their class. These “treats” are against the Word of Wisdom. 

How come every ward (at least in the United States) is the same. In every primary class, youth class and even sometimes in adult classes, JUNK FOOD is handed out. Kids are bribed and rewarded with poisonous chemicals that are making them sicker, sadder, and fatter. Why? Because they “like it”. Sure, candy and treats were made to taste good so of course children are going to want it. They might even favor the teacher who brings the treats. But, is gaining the favor of children the point of second hour classes? According to the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi, that would be considered priestcraft. The purpose of primary and youth classes is to teach the young children about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, why then, is the main event of every class the “treat”.

Now I am not saying that we should ban “treats” all together. I, for one, love a good treat, and I will, on occasion, give my own children a homemade treat if I feel it is a good idea in a given situation. But the treats that are usually given in church hardly qualify as food. 

This is found on the church’s website under the topic, “Word of Wisdom”: 

“Since its introduction, prophets have taught about the importance of following the Word of Wisdom. In addition, they have taught Church members to avoid substances that impair judgment or are harmful or highly addictive, whether legal or illegal.”

So, let’s look at some of the ingredients in these “treats” that are frequently given to our children in nursery, primary, and youth classes. Once you have a better understanding of what these ingredients are, you too will plainly see that they are against the Word of Wisdom. 

Below is a list of some of the different treats that my children have been given at church more than once:

-Dumdums

-Gold fish

-Popcorn

-Marshmallows

-Sweedishfish

-Skittles

-Reese’s

-Fruit snacks

-Ritz crackers

Lets review some of the common ingredients found in these foods that are, according to the church’s website, against the Word of Wisdom. 

-Corn Syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup

-Food Dyes

-Artificial Flavor

-Modified Corn Starch 

-Dextrose

-Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate

-Enriched Wheat Flour

-Vegetable Oils

-Autolyzed Yeast Extract

-TBHQ

-White Mineral Oil

-Titanium Dioxide

-PGPR

-Soy Lecithin

-Disodium Phosphate

Corn Syrup/High Fructose Corn Syrup: A syrup derived from breaking down corn starch with enzymes derived from fungus and bacteria. This is done to make a liquid that is meant to be sweeter than sugar. Corn syrup is high in fructose which is mainly digested by the liver and can result in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It causes your blood sugar to spike very quickly which leads to insulin resistance. This causes type two diabetes, Alzheimer’s and PCOS. It also leads to obesity which is the number one contributing factor of so many other health and metabolic issues. Corn syrup consumption plays a role in causing gout, tooth decay, high blood pressure and kidney issues. It increases inflammation in the body and can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease and some cancers. The corn that is used to create corn syrups is usually derived from GMO corn. Genetically modified corn that is highly toxic to pests and causes holes in their digestive tracts. This corn does the same thing to us. It harms our digestive system causing inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, cancers, and many many other diseases. GMO corn is bioengineered and is not a natural plant. God did not create GMO corn. Scientists did. So why should we be consuming it? Keep in mind that about 92% of all corn grown in the US is GMO corn. Corn syrups also cause “leptin resistance”, this resistance means that your brain no longer receives the “fullness” signal from your stomach, causing you to eat more and more and never feel full. Corn syrups also give the consumer a dopamine rush that is known to be more addictive than one received from cocaine. 

Artificial Food Dyes: Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 are just a few examples of food dyes that are harmful to our health. They are chemicals added to our food, especially children’s food, to make the product look more appetizing and colorful. But the effects of these food dyes can be detrimental. They can cause hyperactivity and restlessness in children, as well as ruin their ability to focus (often these symptoms are mistakenly diagnosed as child having ADHD or ADD). These dyes are also known to be carcinogenic, meaning cancer/tumor causing. They can trigger asthma, skin rashes, inflammation, DNA damage and colorectal cancer. Because of the enticing colors of the food dyes in food, they cause a dopamine rush in the consumer, leading an individual to always want more.

Artificial Flavor: Synthetic compounds created in a lab to mimic flavors. They are used to create more addicting flavors. These compounds are commonly derived from petroleum (think crude oil), coal tar, wood pulp, wood smoke, coffee and bacteria. Some of these artificial flavors are known to cause lung disease, headaches, skin irritations, obesity, behavioral issues in children, and gut microbiome changes. These artificial flavors are considered toxic when consumed in high amounts. That means that if you are consuming a diet high in ultra-processed foods, then, presumably, you are consuming high amounts of these toxic artificial flavors. When consuming these chemicals (especially the ones derived from petroleum) you are putting yourself at higher risk for kidney disease, liver disease, cancer and hormone disruption. 

Modified Corn Starch: This is starch derived from GMO corn and chemically altered to be more stable in our foods. It is used to alter the texture of food. When we consume Modified Corn Starch we break it down into glucose (sugar) which causes our blood sugar to spike and insulin to be released. These two reactions lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and PCOS. Modified Corn Starch also causes gas and bloating, which is no fun for anyone. 

Dextrose: Made from corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch or potato starch. It is a replacement for sugar and can cause high blood sugar spikes leading to insulin resistance. Dextrose gets stored as fat in your body and increases your risk for fatty liver disease. It also causes tooth decay, cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation and increased triglycerides (fat circulating in the blood stream). 

Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate: This is a mineral that comes from a rock that is then treated with chemicals and heat to produce a leavening and preserving agent. Often found in processed foods, it preserves color, retains water, and stabilizes texture. Although in small amounts it is safe to consume, ingesting large amounts through a diet that mainly consists of ultra-processed foods, makes you subject to experiencing: kidney stress/disease, increased cardiovascular risks, calcium imbalances (which will affect your bone health), gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea and raised blood-phosphate levels.  

Enriched Wheat Flour: This is one of the more recognisable ingredients commonly found in some of our most tasty processed snacks. Enriched wheat flour is the flour from the wheat grain that has been enriched with synthetic vitamins. Doesn’t sound too bad right? Wrong. Especially if you, or your child is someone with attention disorder tendencies. Unless it is organic, this grain is highly sprayed with a war chemical called Glyphosate. Glyphosate is a pesticide that also happens to dry wheat out quicker once it is harvested. Enriched Wheat Flour is sprayed with Glyphosate while it is growing, and then again after it is harvested. Glyphosate is deadly to bugs and labeled as, “probably carcinogenic to humans” (carcinogenic means cancer-causing). It definitely causes tumors in rats, so what do you think it does to humans? Once sprayed and milled, the bran and germ are stripped away from the flour removing the fibre and vitamins that God placed into the wheat berry. To replace these (and to cover up from kids getting sick from eating this wheat), chemical scientists decided to enrich, or fortify, this flour with synthetic vitamins. The one I will discuss today is called folic acid. Folic Acid is the synthetic form of the B vitamin called folate. Folate is essential for red blood cell formation, cell division, growth, preventing anemia (iron deficiency), and preventing birth defects. People with the MTHFR gene mutation have a really hard time converting folic acid into folate. Some statistics report that over 40% of people have this gene mutation. Their bodies simply can’t process Folic Acid. Because of this, it builds up in the blood stream and the individual misses out on a key essential vitamin for health and longevity. As a result, you are left with hormones that are imbalanced, failed detoxification, poor DNA repair, and poor neurotransmitter protection. Also, if you are someone with depression or anxiety, if you have the MTHFR gene mutation, consuming folic acid might be the cause behind your mental struggles. It messes with your dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine levels. You are also at risk for high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that in large amounts can put you at risk for damaged artery linings, blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and cognitive decline. 

Vegetable Oils: Also known as industrial seed oils. This does not include extra virgin olive oil. These oils are created through the crushing of a seed to extract the oil. Then a petroleum-derived solvent, usually hexane, is used to extract more oil from the seeds. After that the seed oil goes through a process of refining it which ends in a good bleach bath. Yum. The amount of seed/vegetable oils that we commonly consume in the western diet makes us likely to see effects in our bodies that include inflammation and poor metabolic health. Because of the instability of seed oils, they oxidize easily which damages our cells when we ingest them. Seed oils also drive obesity and the hardening of arteries in the body. 

Autolyzed Yeast Extract: Simply put, this is a flavor enhancer that can make an individual eat more and more of a food without realizing that they are full. This ingredient can trigger headaches and heart palpitations. Autolyzed Yeast Extract also leads to neurodegeneration (think dementia), obesity, diabetes, inflammation and heart disease. This ingredient causes a dopamine spike and even withdrawal symptoms. It is very much a drug. 

TBHQ: Turt-Butylhydroquinone. This is usually added to seed oils to promote shelf stability. In rats, this chemical causes tumor formation. This chemical also alters your immune responses in your body including your ability to fight off cancer cells. Some ways this chemical effects or brain include causing ADHD, hyperactivity and other neurological activity.

White Mineral Oil: This is an oil that is fully derived from petroleum. It is not digestible. But why is it in so many of our favorite snacks? Because it gives those candies, like Skittles, a nice hard outer layer that we love to crunch. This is also used as a laxative and a lubricant. Mmmm taste the rainbow. This petrochemical prevents your body from properly absorbing many vitamins, including A, D, E and K. It also accumulates in our fat and our liver. It is recommended that this chemical should never be fed to young children. So why are we handing it out as a treat to our primary kids? 

Titanium Dioxide: This is a chemical put in paint, sunscreen and toothpaste. Why is it in our food? Well, because it makes the food brighter and even whiter. This chemical is even found in some dairy products. Titanium Dioxide causes inflammation and damages our DNA and cells. Our European friends have something right because this chemical is banned in Europe because it is not considered to be safe for human consumption. It can worsen bowel conditions and alter your precious gut microbiome. Inhaling the dust from this chemical is considered a carcinogen. Another cancer causing chemical. Yay!

PGPR: Polyglycerol Polyrincinoleate. This is an emulsifier often used in chocolate candies and products. This is typically used as a cheaper alternative to cocoa butter. PGPR is highly processed, it is fatty acids from castor oil, vegetable oils, or petroleum. It is then chemically modified and is not technically a food. Enlargement of the liver is noticed in some rodent studies as well as weight gain as a result of consuming PGPR. This additive will also alter the good bacteria in your gut and can increase gut lining permeability, which then causes bits of unwanted food particles to leak into your blood stream causing more inflammation and illness. PGPR can also be turned into sugar in your body. Causing excess blood sugar and insulin spikes leading to diabetes. 

Soy Lecithin: This is a byproduct of soybean oil. It is used as an emulsifier. Soy (usually a GMO crop) contains compounds called phytoestrogens which can cause testosterone levels in men to decrease resulting in less fertile, more feminine men. It doesn’t just make men more girly, it also harms women’s hormones causing a number of imbalances and problems including having effects on the menstrual cycle. And, if you have thyroid issues, it can make them worse by interfering with thyroid hormone absorption. 

Disodium Phosphate: Like Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, this is a chemically manufactured compound that comes from rocks. It is commonly found in powdered products including cheese powders that we lick off our fingers after eating a bag of chips or crackers. It disrupts calcium imbalance, thyroid hormone balance, causes bone mineral loss, and the hardening of blood vessels. It can increase your risk for kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. 

CONCLUSION

If so many harmful and even deadly ingredients are contained in these ultra-processed “food” snacks, then why are we feeding them to our children? Each and every child is a beautiful gift from loving Heavenly Parents. Teaching them to honor God by treating their body with love and kindness should be one of the foundational principles that adult members of the church should teach. Our bodies are temples, so why are we poisoning them and why are we poisoning the precious innocent bodies of the primary children on a weekly basis inside the Lord’s church buildings. As a mother of three beautiful children, my heart breaks each week as I send my kids off to their primary classes knowing that they are about to eat food that is harmful and addictive (and therefore against the Word of Wisdom), all because an adult teacher might want to win favor with my child. These snacks are often the center point of a lesson or class. They steal the attention of each child and rob the Spirit of having the opportunity to witness of the Savior Jesus Christ. We wonder why children nowadays don’t listen to adults any more and why they can’t hold still. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SNACKS!

SOLUTION

So what can we do to solve this issue? In Nursery it is customary to give the small children a snack. Why can’t this snack be some organic fruit and grass-fed cheese cubes? Why does it have to be fruit snacks, Gold fish and marshmallows? In a ward we lived in in Arizona, the nursery leaders brought produce they grew in their own garden as well as cheese for the children to eat during snack time. The children loved this snack time and would always ask for more. Primary children do not need to be fed a snack during their short 20 minute class. The candy and treats given there are often the cause of ruined appetites for a later meal. These snacks should be done away with, or at least, they should be snacks that don’t spike the blood pressure and blood sugar of a child who just wants to learn about Jesus Christ. 

Something I have taught my 4-year-old (she is the only one old enough to understand this concept) is that most of the food she is offered in church is harmful to her body and that it probably makes Jesus sad when we eat it because we are hurting our bodies. I have told her that if someone offers her a treat at church she can say, “no thank you” and then she can get a homemade treat later. These homemade treats are still treats, but they are free from these harmful ingredients listed above and are less insidious to her little growing body. And guess what, this works. She proudly tells me each Sunday that she said, “no thank you” to the treat that she was offered at church and that she would rather have a homemade treat. I believe teaching her to do this at such a young age is imperative to her being able to understand and be confident in saying no to even more harmful substances offered to her in her future.