My daughter became seriously ill aged 10 with cramps, diarrhea, weight loss. Within a month or two she could barely walk 100 metres without getting a stitch, was breathless, routinely ran high temperatures and began vomiting randomly. She would wake at night crying in pain from her legs aching or her back hurting. She stopped growing and her skin went grey.
After 2 GP trips, 2 A and E visits within a month, and an emergency gastro appointment she was finally diagnosed with severe Crohn's disease. This disease was once virtually unknown in children but since the 1970s has grown enormously in children. It is now not particularly rare in children and increasingly common in adolescents and young adults. It is incurable and my daughter is now on 4 separate medications daily, quite probably for life. She has a 70 percent chance of in the future needing operations to remove sections of intestine, risks strictures, blockages, and fistulas in her intestines. She will probably go through early menopause.
There is increasing evidence that the Western diet contributes to the development of Crohn's in genetically susceptible people (her great grandma developed Crohn's in her 70s, back in the 1980s). Specifically, it seems that emulsifiers, carageenans, and maltodextrins may be a significant factor in developing Crohn's. In animal models there is pretty good evidence for emulsifiers. Emulsifiers bind fat and liquid and are used in bread, ice cream, sauces, baked goods etc almost ubiquitously in the UK. They are considered "safe", despite animal evidence showing they probably aren't. Since emulsifiers were added to prepared foods, Crohn's levels have increased hugely. This is a serious disease and it ruins lives.
AIBU to say that British food companies should be more wary of emulsifiers and label them in their food, provide emulsifier free alternatives and label items emulsifier free for families with an IBD history? Just like they make gluten free, dairy free and vegan foods?