Myth: Margarine is One Molecule Away From Plastic
I get emails from people about this topic all of the time so I will continue to post articles that address the myth that margarine is one molecule away from plastic. Here’s one reporter from the Montreal Gazette’s explanation of the myth:
This is no joke!" As soon as I see that phrase pop up in an email, I know what's coming. I'm going to be warned about some nasty substance that is unravelling the very fabric of society. Like margarine. It is "one molecule away from plastic," a widely circulating email proclaims.
Even flies are smart enough to stay away from it. We also have to be on the lookout for mouldy pancake mix, which apparently is lying in wait to kill us. Sodium benzoate, a common preservative, can trigger Parkinson's disease. And the MMR vaccine for children? Trading in mumps, measles or rubella for autism is not an attractive proposition.
These warnings, often forwarded by good Samaritans looking out for our welfare, are generally based on some sort of misinterpretation of scientific research. But not always. Margarine being "one molecule away from plastic" is just plain nonsense. Plastics are composed of long molecules called polymers, while margarine is a blend of fats and water. There is no chemical similarity between the two. In any case, being "one molecule away" is a totally meaningless expression.
Substances are made of molecules, which in turn are composed of atoms joined together in a specific pattern. I suppose one might say that hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, is one atom away from water, H2O, but even this is meaningless. That extra oxygen atom changes the properties of the substance dramatically. Stick your finger into a bottle of pure hydrogen peroxide and you will quickly experience the effect of that extra oxygen.
Even if margarine had some chemical similarity to plastic, which it does not, its properties could still be dramatically different. Slight alterations in molecular structure can account for very significant changes in properties. As far as flies staying away from margarine goes, I have yet to see a study confirming the allegation. In any case, our dietary decisions should not be based on the dining habits of flies
This is no joke!" As soon as I see that phrase pop up in an email, I know what's coming. I'm going to be warned about some nasty substance that is unravelling the very fabric of society. Like margarine. It is "one molecule away from plastic," a widely circulating email proclaims.
Even flies are smart enough to stay away from it. We also have to be on the lookout for mouldy pancake mix, which apparently is lying in wait to kill us. Sodium benzoate, a common preservative, can trigger Parkinson's disease. And the MMR vaccine for children? Trading in mumps, measles or rubella for autism is not an attractive proposition.
These warnings, often forwarded by good Samaritans looking out for our welfare, are generally based on some sort of misinterpretation of scientific research. But not always. Margarine being "one molecule away from plastic" is just plain nonsense. Plastics are composed of long molecules called polymers, while margarine is a blend of fats and water. There is no chemical similarity between the two. In any case, being "one molecule away" is a totally meaningless expression.
Substances are made of molecules, which in turn are composed of atoms joined together in a specific pattern. I suppose one might say that hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, is one atom away from water, H2O, but even this is meaningless. That extra oxygen atom changes the properties of the substance dramatically. Stick your finger into a bottle of pure hydrogen peroxide and you will quickly experience the effect of that extra oxygen.
Even if margarine had some chemical similarity to plastic, which it does not, its properties could still be dramatically different. Slight alterations in molecular structure can account for very significant changes in properties. As far as flies staying away from margarine goes, I have yet to see a study confirming the allegation. In any case, our dietary decisions should not be based on the dining habits of flies
Labels: email hoax, margarine, margarine myth
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