In a short time the Takis, chips These crunchy snacks, born in Mexico in the early 2000s and created by the food industry giant Barcel, have become the best-selling snack in America, especially among young people, and are also conquering the Italian market. In the United States, they are found in any local supermarket and come in a dozen or so varieties, all of which share two constant elements: the spicy flavor, with a mix of lime and chili pepper, and the coloring. As for the name, it derives from the Spanish tacos, which means “to roll up” and somehow indicates that Takis look like rolled tacos.
Made from corn, Takis have the flavor of salsa as their base guacamole, It's very spicy, and a fiery red color, which children and adolescents love to get their hands dirty with, almost as a sign of adherence to the gospel of this new product from the endless catalog of junk food. And to achieve this result, poisonous dyes are used, some of which are banned in Europe, including the deadly red 40. This dye, according to several studies, increases the risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome and other inflammatory diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Red 40 dye, a synthetic additive derived from petroleum, is one of the colorants authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to produce beverages and snacks, but is banned by health authorities in other countries around the world. And among the many studies identifying the dangers associated with the consumption of the poisonous red 40 dye, a recent study from the University of California links its use to the risk of children developing the disease known as attention deficit.
Another factor harmful to adolescent health concerns calories and fat. Takis are calorie bombs: they contain more than 500 calories per 100 grams of product, in a ratio of 5 to 1. They also contain very high levels of sodium. And this should certainly concern American health authorities, considering that youth obesity in the United States has become a veritable epidemic. While a deathly silence from health authorities covers the advance of Takis, the propaganda trumpets for the deadly product are relentless, playing the piper's pipes on social media. Canadian Logan Moffit is one of the most followed influencers with his videos on TikTok, in which he explains how to eat a whole pack without even drinking a glass of water and demonstrates how to make a salad by mixing chopped Takis with cucumbers: he has 5 million followers. Barcel's Facebook page, dedicated solely to Takis, where influencer videos and recipes are shared, has nearly 4 million followers.
Currently, the only US state that seems willing to take action against the widespread use of food colorings in snacks for children and adolescents is California. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning the serving of products containing six types of food colorings in school cafeterias, including Takis Red 40. However, this law only applies within California, and within the narrow confines of school cafeterias. Otherwise, Takis, with its poisonous ingredients, has free reign in America.
The cover image is taken from the “Takis” Facebook page dedicated to the product
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