2 Baby Carrot Myths and Facts: How are Baby Carrots Made and What about Chlorine?
Who would have guessed that one of the most “viral” things I’ve ever posted on Facebook would be about organic baby carrots? Clearly people want to understand and discuss baby carrots!
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As a result I decided to do some additional research on the topic and also restate what I learned (and shared) in my original post. So today I am shedding some light on the two mysteries that surround baby carrots: how they are made and if they are really “soaked in chlorine.”
I buy baby carrots on occasion (they are not a regular purchase but can be handy in a lunchbox), and like others, I honestly just wanted to know the truth.
And speaking of the truth, I want to share that I do not like to spread misinformation so please know the facts I am sharing do not come from Snopes or Google or a Facebook “friend” or any other questionable source.
3/5/13 update: To clarify, it is not my intent to discredit Snopes or other sources, but rather to point out that I did not rely on 3rd party information.
I called up the carrot company myself to get these answers (the 800 number is right there on the back of the package), and if you think produce companies would spread misinformation to customers like me about their government-regulated processes then that's a whole other blog post for another day! But for now, I believe what they've told me - and sent me in writing - is pretty solid.
How Baby Carrots Are Made
Let’s face it – baby carrots do not look like regular carrots. First off, they are a smaller size and their rounded edges sort of resemble little “stubs,” and when you cut them down the middle you don’t quite see the same core that you would find in a regular carrot. So, what are baby carrots anyway?
According to California-based Grimmway Farms (baby carrot producers under names like Cal-Organic), the carrots they use are a specific variety that are smaller in diameter than regular table carrots and grown just for the production of baby carrots. The end product is shorter in length than regular carrots because, well, they cut them.
They say their baby carrot variety looks similar to a regular carrot right out of the ground except it’s smaller in diameter, sweeter, more tender, and – while it still has a core down the middle – the core is much more slender than a traditional table carrot. So the diameter of the baby carrot that you see in the store is the actual diameter of the original carrot. But these carrots grow about 8 – 10 inches long so as I mentioned they cut them into small pieces, abrasively peel them with something like a potato peeler, then wash and package them for stores. (Pictures of this whole process are unfortunately proprietary.)
I asked why the edges of the peeled baby carrots are rounded and they said when they go through the peeler they tumble together (like a rock tumbler) so the edges get “polished” by other carrots during that process. I also asked what they do with the “waste” from the peels and tips, which they call the “mash,” and they said the tips are used for other products like shredded carrots (sold as salad toppers) and the peels are used for cattle feed.
So long story short, just like there are different varieties of apples (Honey Crisp vs. Granny Smith) there are different varieties of carrots, and some happen to be smaller in diameter than others!
Are Baby Carrots “Soaked in Chlorine?”
There's a pretty big rumor going around that peeled baby carrots are "soaked in a chlorine solution." Some even take it so far as to say what makes these carrots turn white over time is the chlorine coming to the surface.
As it turns out, according to a written statement from Grimmway Farms (which is the largest producer of baby carrots in the United States), the carrots are treated with WATER that contains a small amount of chlorine. And this water/chlorine solution is "well within the limits established by the EPA and comparable to the amount acceptable in [public] drinking water."
I am by no means condoning the consumption of chlorine (that’s an even bigger issue), but the amount of chlorine in the water they use is 4 parts per million (ppm), which, for some, is similar to what's in your drinking water.
Again this is certainly not ideal, but I personally find that to be a lot less “dramatic” than carrots being soaked in straight up chlorine. They also said, “[The] chlorine is used to keep the carrots, the processing water and the processing equipment in a sanitary condition in order to prevent the spread of food-born pathogens [like e. coli].”
How Does that Compare to the Chlorine in a Pool?
Believe it or not, the government regulation for chlorine allowed in a swimming pool is LESS than what’s allowed in public drinking water, which varies by region but is generally 1 - 3 ppm! My first thought (aside from "that’s crazy") is that I can sometimes smell chlorine coming off of swimming pools so how could that be?
Apparently, according to multiple sources, the aroma that you smell when you are at the pool could actually be from the pool not having enough chlorine. Cited from the Water Quality & Health Council (and verified through many other sources), that smell could “indicate that the pool water has not been properly treated. A common cause is high levels of chloramines, formed when chlorine combines with body oils, perspiration, urine and other contaminants brought into pools by swimmers.
Contrary to what most people think, a strong chemical smell is not an indication of too much chlorine in the pool. In fact, the pool may actually need additional chlorine treatment to get rid of chloramines and sanitize the water.” Nice.
So, Why do Baby Carrots Turn White?
The white color that you sometimes see on the outside of baby carrots is technically called “blush” and it’s the evidence of dehydration. This could even happen to your own fresh carrots that you peel and then let sit in the fridge for days or weeks prior to eating them. This happens because, according to Grimmway, even though the carrots have been pulled out of the ground and peeled they are still living roots so they sometimes turn white to create a new protective outer layer. They said this does not change the nutritional value or affect the food safety of the carrots…frankly it just isn’t pretty (and it could sometimes mean the carrots will taste a little dried out).
Putting those carrots in a bowl of ice water will help bring back the bright orange color if it concerns you.
Conclusion
So, in summary, I’ve said this about conventional produce before and I’ll say it about baby carrots: Eating any produce is far better than eating none at all.
But if avoiding standard tap water is important to you then you might want to rethink what kind of carrots you buy at the grocery store. Like I said above we normally buy whole carrots ourselves (and even grow our own wild carrots in the winter!), but a couple readers pointed out to me that even if you buy fresh carrots then “wash” them off in your chlorinated tap water before eating them…how is that much different than the baby carrot process?
And here we go further and further down the rabbit hole, which is honestly a place I like to avoid (since it’s clearly unrealistic to go live in a bubble somewhere). So, no matter what kind of carrots you decide to buy going forward (now that you have the facts), hopefully some of you, like me, will be relieved to know that baby carrots are NOT actually soaked in a pure chlorine bath.
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Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.
Comments
Alannasays
"According to Grimmway (maker of baby carrots under names like Cal-Organic), the carrots they use are a specific variety that are smaller in diameter than regular table carrots and grown just for the production of baby carrots." So are these GMOs??
No they're not GMO, just a different variety. It's almost like animals. There are different breeds of cats and dogs. There are also different varieties of fruits and veggies. For example, red grapes or green grapes. Beefsteak or cherry tomatoes. Kind of like that.
Almost all farms wash their produce before sending it to market. Carrots do not come out of the ground clean, but they are not covered in caked mud when you buy them at the store. Why? They are washed. And unless you're contacting every farm to know if it's well or tap water and what's in it, you just don't know if there is chlorine, or fluoride, etc being washed over your produce. The organic farmers at my farmers market rinse their produce to remoev dirt before selling it too! You can't avoid tap water when it comes to produce!
I have not had time to check into this yet, but recently we have had several different brands of mini carrots contain one or more that were actually slimy (not just wet), looked like it had already been chewed (perhaps caught in the machinery) and started to make the ones around them go bad. It happened in different bags from different stores after years of buying the same wide varieties with no problem. Did your research uncover a possible answer for this oddity? We've since switched to big carrots which we also find to be more economical. (Our dog eats more of them than we do and I don't even have to peel his!)
From what I have read and believe, the problem with "baby" carrots is not that they have been soaked in chlorine as those levels are low and considered by most to be non-toxic. The true problem lies in that the carrots protective peel has been removed, exposing it, and every other cut/prepared veggie in your fridge to harmful bacteria that should not be consumed. Have you done any research in this area? I would love to know if there is more on this.
Wow what a great article! Thank you so much for doing the leg work for your readers. I had no idea the controversy over carrots. Obviously, I want my food as pure as possible,but I also understand the importance chemicals can provide for safe food handling and manufacturing. Do people really believe carrots would be soaked in pure chlorine? It is a gas and only liquid when mixed with certain elements. Chlorine gets a bad wrap, and maybe justifiably, but I feel too many people knock it without doing their research. Thank you again. I will be sharing with my fellow foodies!
I have noticed that packaging used to say 'baby carrots' but now, unless it's the 'genuine article', it says 'baby CUT carrots.' I actually stopped buying baby cut carrots...more because they aren't baby carrots...they are just big carrots cut up by machines in some factory. I figured I'm better off cutting up the carrots myself. It just seems cleaner to me to peel them and cut them in my kitchen. If I want true baby carrots, I guess I'd have to look harder for them!! Otherwise...it's regular 'ol carrots for me and my family!!
Actually, according to this article, they're not just big carrots cut small. They are a different variety of carrot that is more tender and has a smaller core. I know my young children find them easier to eat than a big carrot cut into sticks, so that's the main reason I buy them. I was glad to hear the waste from cutting the carrots into "baby" pieces gets used in other ways. That was my main concern with them.
Wow... I think a LOT of people have misplaced priorities: I remember seeing this documentary in Toxicology class where this mother was saying she wouldn't give store-bought applesauce to her daughter because it contained carcinogens. Meanwhile, the film showed her daughter riding a bike without a helmet in the background! I cannot fathom why people make a fuss about carrots being properly washed (mostly so you don't get SICK) with infinitely small amounts of chlorine (which is in the tap water we drink)but have NO ISSUE giving their kids candy with much more toxic compounds (such as HGCS and coloring agents) than chlorine. Seriously people. Eat your carrots, baby or not. They are useful for lunches and I'm actually now more than ever going to use them!
FWIW, I grow a Nantes Hybrid from Stokes called Goldfinger. It produces a full sized carrot with a blunt nose if left in the ground to full majority, however, if taken as a "baby", e.g. 4-6 weeks before full maturity, it gives me a 1" diameter baby carrot that's 4-6" in length. This version has all of the features mentioned in the original article, with the exception I've watered with well water. They are very sweet, have virtually no core, and a blunt nose (albeit with a tap root). I use a pair of scissors to snip off the root, and that's it, a "real" baby carrot is born.
I pick these in an effort to thin my carrot crops. This lets me get both another crop of baby carrots (in 4-6 weeks) as well as full grown Goldfingers (7-8" @ 1.5-2" diameter).
I just had to point this out as it seems as though the article suggests that "baby carrots" are a distinct variety...they aren't, they're just immature carrots which tend to be sweeter and more tender than fully mature carrots.
Thanks for clearing up a lot of questions I had about baby carrots. I really like them and would not like to throw them out if still good to eat. Luzille
Why wouldn't people believe baby carrots are "Real Carrots". Farmers and researchers have doing hybrids for decades. Probably the shaper is something like the potato peeler we used in the Army Mess. It was shaped like a construction cement mixer, the inside was rough stone and as it turned it took off the outside (peel), it also rounded them somewhat. I guess if I would have left them in too long the potatoes would have been round like balls.
I'm very confused about the comments regarding chlorine. The EPA limit for chlorine in drinking water is a trace to 4 parts per million. Most water systems are .5ppm to 1.5. If a system is running at 4ppm they have issues or a long transit time to thier residents that would cause the free chlorine to get to unsafe levels.
I would highly doubt anybody would use enough chlorine to cause carrots to turn white.
There are such things as genuine "baby" or immature carrots, though most of the product talked about here are cut carrots. I understand that a typical part of the process is a commercial potato peeler, or an adaptation thereof.
Something I do believe is that all cello=bagged carrots, including the "full length" ones, have less flavor than carrots bought with the greens, which simply seem to taste fresher. Of course, root vegetables are valued for their long life, so ... it's fair to say that carrots with greens bought mid-winter have traveled some distance to the NE USA where I live.
I wonder what they would answer if you asked what else was in the water. I have heard that citric acid is also added because it helps the carrots retain their color longer. Also, the process for shaping the carrots looks like a lathe- is carves the carrots into this shape the way you may shape a table leg, for example. There are varieties of baby carrots, but the diameter of these suggests that they are still quite a bit larger than some of the smallers carrots grown by home gardeners. Companies also routinely add gases to bags of packaged produce so that they remain fresh while in the bag. These escape once the bag is opened and are supposed to be rendered basically inert.
Do you know what citric acid is? Lemon Juice. Or Orange juice. Yes, it is possible to obtain and use "just plain citric acid" but essentially, they are the same thing. Who cares if they wash carrots with what is basically lemon juice to preserve the color?
Someone may have pointed this out to you already, but Snopes is not a source of misinformation, it's actually an independent research website that does exactly what you're doing here: researches rumors on the web and verifies or disproves their accuracy.
So it doesn't make any sense to say that you don't get your information from Snopes, therefore we can trust that you're not spreading misinformation. Getting your information from Snopes would actually mean that you were trying not to spread misinformation.
Hope that makes sense. Not sure you understood what Snopes actually is.
I wanted to comment to HOPE, you who said that 'Snopes' posts factual stories from the same place as Lisa - being from the carrot company.
'Snopes' encloses the sources used and none of which are by any carrot company. thus making it like a he said she said- third person web based site.
I searched baby carrots on there and this is the site i received: http://www.snopes.com/food/tainted/carrots.asp
At the bottom it lists its sources. I was looking for a brand name or grocery market because you wouldn't ask a news paper writer a question like "how are baby carrots made?"
The sources:
Fishman, Charles. "Baby, Maybe."
Fast Company. May 2004 (p. 40).
TechMan. "With Food, Trust Us, Low-Tech is Better."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1 July 2007 (p. F6).
Weise, Elizabeth. "Digging the Baby Carrot."
USA Today. 11 August 2004.
San Antonio Express-News. "Q&A."
21 April 2004 (p. F2)
I didnt know what "fast Company" was so i searched it and found it was just a website showing bloggers articles.
the other sources are from news papers.
Thanks Lisa, When I read that the hair went up on the back of my neck. Snopes is where I have been going for years when I hear something that sounds to hairy to be true. I have found that people I know that bad mouth Snopes are people that hear some thing untrue that fits their agenda and they just don't want to know the truth.
Everyone has a touch of bias in them. Everyone. We all look at the world through some sort of glasses...some political..our angle of history...
Even Snopes has a touch of bias, I've noticed. They definitely lean a certain way politically. And I have heard in other ways: historically inaccurate.
That is why I always also check truthorfiction.com
Thank you for this post. Good to have the info from a trusted blog. I remember hearing about this chlorine-soaking business and intended to research whether it was true. That was 2 years ago. Just remembered that intention this morning (but haven't eaten baby carrots since!).
Yes, thanks for clearing it up. I hadn't heard chlorine, but formaldehyde. Don't laugh! It's surprising what they sneak into the processed food out there, despite it sounding crazy. But I won't feel so bad eating the occasional bag.
This is my first time reading this site. Where is the paranoid, delusional poster claiming this young woman is paid off by the company she queried regarding the carrots? Come on! Somebody step up! Make your own choices about food based on the best facts you believe true. I grew up very close to a Conoco refinery so I'm already damaged beyond repair and marinate my baby carrots in 10W30.
I don't buy baby carrots because the skin is removed, and most of the vitamins and nutriens are in the skin of fruits and vegetables!! Always srub your veggies in filtered (removes the chlorine) and eat them skin-on.
I agree Michelle - anyone can tell you what you want to hear when you call them. The GMA is on Monsanto's side so why not the product manufacturers. I don't need baby ready to eat carrots - I can grow, wash and eat my own in any size I desire.
I was about to order a 3 day cleanse,and I called and asked about the carrots in there juice. They say there carrots are unpeeled when they juice them. They claim its healthier to leave the skin on.. Is this true? The website where they sell the 3 day cleanse is ourisfruit.com. Its only $99 for the 3 day program, so I really want to order it. Any advise?
Hi there Rachel. Sorry, but I know nothing about this product. I can say that there is nothing wrong with leaving the skin on the carrot as long as it has been thoroughly cleaned. ~Amy
Thank you for the clarification on baby carrots. I feel much better now when eating the occasional bag of baby carrots. :) I personally have never noticed a chlorine smell but heard a rumour. And you are right, what's the difference between rinsing your food under chlorinated tap water and having a quick bath in it.
All I know is my nose tells me not to eat these! The strong chlorine smell that hits me when a bag of baby carrots is opened is overwhelming. Take an extra minute and cut up your own organic carrots!
Chlorine aka bleach is used in medical practices all the time. A very small amount diluted is very effective in killing bad bacteria. My kids love baby carrots and they are so convenient,
Thank you for posting this and educating those who are to lazy to research it for themselves! I had already looked into the baby carrot situation and was pleased with the research I found. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE, of course, is the fact that they do use the chlorine. Which I understand their reasoning. BUT, as for me and my family, we don't use tap water or bottled water. So in the future I will not be buying baby carrots =( If I'm going to live a healthier life I have to take control of every aspect, not just the organic food side. Obviously, there are things you can't avoid unless you live in a bubble. But I CAN control what I consume. I hope everyone can educate themselves further and do a little research on tap water, bottled water (all beverages in that case) and endocrine disruptors. Living healthy goes beyond organic food. Hope everyone has a healthy and blessed year!!!
i got freaked out from baby cutted carotts for the 1st time i know a girl who eats them and she thinks that if you eat too many of them she thinks they might cost u to turn into a baby and i was freaked out from the 1st time but i got over it i am trying to find out if baby cutted carrots costs u to turn into a baby i am trying to give her this example so she will stop freaking out
This is great information! I always wondered how baby carrots differed from the large varieties. It is good to know with all the health rumors floating around that one of my favorite snacks can stay that way!
I don't often buy baby carrots, only because they seem to turn my white fillings orange. Unlike the regular carrots. So, obviously, they're adding a colourant to the carrots.
I guess that not everyone has the option of growing their own carrots and may also not have the storage capacity for fresh foods. I am glad that people like yourself does the research and informs people of potential hazards. Quite often our health is determined by income levels as some of us have to work long hours to get ends to meet but I am in an ideal situation where I live off the grid and rely to a large degree on available resources for survival but carrots and other veges are seasonal so I am still reliant on the supermarket in the off season and have often wondered how these so called fresh veges are available year round. This perpetual freshness has often been a source of concern for me since medical intervention is far from convenient. I assume the processes in Australia are either the same or very similar to those in the USA so your information is useful here as well. Cheers
@carrotcrusader, you should most likely see an allergist. Even if you're not allergic to carrots, you may have an allergy to the pollen in raw carrots. I have this specific allergy and all of the things you described are similar to what I experience when I eat raw carrots.
Thank you for posting this! It was very informative, especially this time of year when some people will turn up their noses at baby carrots because they heard they were soaked in bleach. If it weren't for baby carrots, I might be munching on something far worse, plus it adds to my veggie intake, is quick to throw on salads, etc. In an ideal world, I would buy organic carrots and cut them myself. I will consider doing this in the future. Thanks again!
Hi, I totally appreciate that you did some research on your own about them little carrots! Please do yourself a favor and buy the regular carrots at the health food store and peel, chop and enjoy! I tested these suckers a few months back. I bought some and put in the fridge, next to them I bought some fresh carrots and placed them there too. The little carrots stayed fresh for almost 3 months--the fresh carrots started to go bad 2 weeks later I mean by bad, soft not rotten. You can do this yourself in your own fridge if you don't believe me! So my conclusion was that there HAS to be some sort of chemical on them little carrots for them to last that long...do your own homework!!!
Yes Dan it is one big Baby Carrot conspiracy to take over the world, one healthy person at a time...
Virginia Schmeckersays
I have recently steamed some baby carrots and the steam run off water was real green. When I steam cut up carrots it is orange. I was wondering why that is if there is not something on them???
Hi Virginia. I know that carrots can sometimes turn green in baking as a reaction to baking soda but I've not heard anything about water turning green when boiling. Chlorophyll, maybe? Sorry I can't be more helpful. ~Amy
Maybe the carrots weren't the cause for the green color? Remember, your tap water if FULL of harmful toxins and endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors have a nickname, gender bending chemicals. The carrots should be the least of your worries if you are steaming them with tap water. When people decide to take control of their lives and start eating better, they should consider looking at everything around them. Not just focusing all of their attention on organic foods and healthy recipes, even though that's part of it. But, it's just one part. Everything we eat, drink, touch, smell and breathe plays a huge role in our health today. I don't claim to have all the answers and I don't know why you had a green color. I just highly recommend you use filtered or alkaline water on everything you consume.
Alanna says
"According to Grimmway (maker of baby carrots under names like Cal-Organic), the carrots they use are a specific variety that are smaller in diameter than regular table carrots and grown just for the production of baby carrots." So are these GMOs??
Lauren says
No they're not GMO, just a different variety. It's almost like animals. There are different breeds of cats and dogs. There are also different varieties of fruits and veggies. For example, red grapes or green grapes. Beefsteak or cherry tomatoes. Kind of like that.
Dahlia says
Almost all farms wash their produce before sending it to market. Carrots do not come out of the ground clean, but they are not covered in caked mud when you buy them at the store. Why? They are washed. And unless you're contacting every farm to know if it's well or tap water and what's in it, you just don't know if there is chlorine, or fluoride, etc being washed over your produce. The organic farmers at my farmers market rinse their produce to remoev dirt before selling it too! You can't avoid tap water when it comes to produce!
Michele says
I have not had time to check into this yet, but recently we have had several different brands of mini carrots contain one or more that were actually slimy (not just wet), looked like it had already been chewed (perhaps caught in the machinery) and started to make the ones around them go bad. It happened in different bags from different stores after years of buying the same wide varieties with no problem. Did your research uncover a possible answer for this oddity? We've since switched to big carrots which we also find to be more economical. (Our dog eats more of them than we do and I don't even have to peel his!)
Mary says
I agree with the slimy comment. That is the reason I quit buying them. It was not addressed in the article.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
The slimy carrots have just gone bad. Return them. I have several times.
Camerly says
From what I have read and believe, the problem with "baby" carrots is not that they have been soaked in chlorine as those levels are low and considered by most to be non-toxic. The true problem lies in that the carrots protective peel has been removed, exposing it, and every other cut/prepared veggie in your fridge to harmful bacteria that should not be consumed. Have you done any research in this area? I would love to know if there is more on this.
Melissa says
Wow what a great article! Thank you so much for doing the leg work for your readers. I had no idea the controversy over carrots. Obviously, I want my food as pure as possible,but I also understand the importance chemicals can provide for safe food handling and manufacturing. Do people really believe carrots would be soaked in pure chlorine? It is a gas and only liquid when mixed with certain elements. Chlorine gets a bad wrap, and maybe justifiably, but I feel too many people knock it without doing their research. Thank you again. I will be sharing with my fellow foodies!
Sarah says
If the baby carrot is 8 to 10 inches it would need to be cut.
Deb Douglas says
I have noticed that packaging used to say 'baby carrots' but now, unless it's the 'genuine article', it says 'baby CUT carrots.' I actually stopped buying baby cut carrots...more because they aren't baby carrots...they are just big carrots cut up by machines in some factory. I figured I'm better off cutting up the carrots myself. It just seems cleaner to me to peel them and cut them in my kitchen. If I want true baby carrots, I guess I'd have to look harder for them!! Otherwise...it's regular 'ol carrots for me and my family!!
Nicole says
Actually, according to this article, they're not just big carrots cut small. They are a different variety of carrot that is more tender and has a smaller core. I know my young children find them easier to eat than a big carrot cut into sticks, so that's the main reason I buy them. I was glad to hear the waste from cutting the carrots into "baby" pieces gets used in other ways. That was my main concern with them.
Beth says
Thank you, very helpful.
Frederique says
Wow... I think a LOT of people have misplaced priorities: I remember seeing this documentary in Toxicology class where this mother was saying she wouldn't give store-bought applesauce to her daughter because it contained carcinogens. Meanwhile, the film showed her daughter riding a bike without a helmet in the background! I cannot fathom why people make a fuss about carrots being properly washed (mostly so you don't get SICK) with infinitely small amounts of chlorine (which is in the tap water we drink)but have NO ISSUE giving their kids candy with much more toxic compounds (such as HGCS and coloring agents) than chlorine. Seriously people. Eat your carrots, baby or not. They are useful for lunches and I'm actually now more than ever going to use them!
Janine says
Amen, amen, and amen!!
Russ Cooper says
FWIW, I grow a Nantes Hybrid from Stokes called Goldfinger. It produces a full sized carrot with a blunt nose if left in the ground to full majority, however, if taken as a "baby", e.g. 4-6 weeks before full maturity, it gives me a 1" diameter baby carrot that's 4-6" in length. This version has all of the features mentioned in the original article, with the exception I've watered with well water. They are very sweet, have virtually no core, and a blunt nose (albeit with a tap root). I use a pair of scissors to snip off the root, and that's it, a "real" baby carrot is born.
I pick these in an effort to thin my carrot crops. This lets me get both another crop of baby carrots (in 4-6 weeks) as well as full grown Goldfingers (7-8" @ 1.5-2" diameter).
I just had to point this out as it seems as though the article suggests that "baby carrots" are a distinct variety...they aren't, they're just immature carrots which tend to be sweeter and more tender than fully mature carrots.
Cheers,
Russ
Luzille Burnley says
Thanks for clearing up a lot of questions I had about baby carrots. I really like them and would not like to throw them out if still good to eat. Luzille
George says
thanks. to bad we just chucked the ones we just got.
Denis Logan says
Why wouldn't people believe baby carrots are "Real Carrots". Farmers and researchers have doing hybrids for decades. Probably the shaper is something like the potato peeler we used in the Army Mess. It was shaped like a construction cement mixer, the inside was rough stone and as it turned it took off the outside (peel), it also rounded them somewhat. I guess if I would have left them in too long the potatoes would have been round like balls.
Billy Gilbert says
I'm very confused about the comments regarding chlorine. The EPA limit for chlorine in drinking water is a trace to 4 parts per million. Most water systems are .5ppm to 1.5. If a system is running at 4ppm they have issues or a long transit time to thier residents that would cause the free chlorine to get to unsafe levels.
I would highly doubt anybody would use enough chlorine to cause carrots to turn white.
tomcrisp says
There are such things as genuine "baby" or immature carrots, though most of the product talked about here are cut carrots. I understand that a typical part of the process is a commercial potato peeler, or an adaptation thereof.
Something I do believe is that all cello=bagged carrots, including the "full length" ones, have less flavor than carrots bought with the greens, which simply seem to taste fresher. Of course, root vegetables are valued for their long life, so ... it's fair to say that carrots with greens bought mid-winter have traveled some distance to the NE USA where I live.
lgw says
I wonder what they would answer if you asked what else was in the water. I have heard that citric acid is also added because it helps the carrots retain their color longer. Also, the process for shaping the carrots looks like a lathe- is carves the carrots into this shape the way you may shape a table leg, for example. There are varieties of baby carrots, but the diameter of these suggests that they are still quite a bit larger than some of the smallers carrots grown by home gardeners. Companies also routinely add gases to bags of packaged produce so that they remain fresh while in the bag. These escape once the bag is opened and are supposed to be rendered basically inert.
http://www.snapfreshfoods.com/Portals/0/Media%20Release/Baby%20Carrots%20Media%20Release%20Apr13v2.pdf
sherry says
Do you know what citric acid is? Lemon Juice. Or Orange juice. Yes, it is possible to obtain and use "just plain citric acid" but essentially, they are the same thing. Who cares if they wash carrots with what is basically lemon juice to preserve the color?
Hope says
Hi Lisa,
Someone may have pointed this out to you already, but Snopes is not a source of misinformation, it's actually an independent research website that does exactly what you're doing here: researches rumors on the web and verifies or disproves their accuracy.
So it doesn't make any sense to say that you don't get your information from Snopes, therefore we can trust that you're not spreading misinformation. Getting your information from Snopes would actually mean that you were trying not to spread misinformation.
Hope that makes sense. Not sure you understood what Snopes actually is.
Shana says
I wanted to comment to HOPE, you who said that 'Snopes' posts factual stories from the same place as Lisa - being from the carrot company.
'Snopes' encloses the sources used and none of which are by any carrot company. thus making it like a he said she said- third person web based site.
I searched baby carrots on there and this is the site i received:
http://www.snopes.com/food/tainted/carrots.asp
At the bottom it lists its sources. I was looking for a brand name or grocery market because you wouldn't ask a news paper writer a question like "how are baby carrots made?"
The sources:
Fishman, Charles. "Baby, Maybe."
Fast Company. May 2004 (p. 40).
TechMan. "With Food, Trust Us, Low-Tech is Better."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1 July 2007 (p. F6).
Weise, Elizabeth. "Digging the Baby Carrot."
USA Today. 11 August 2004.
San Antonio Express-News. "Q&A."
21 April 2004 (p. F2)
I didnt know what "fast Company" was so i searched it and found it was just a website showing bloggers articles.
the other sources are from news papers.
Denis Logan says
Thanks Lisa, When I read that the hair went up on the back of my neck. Snopes is where I have been going for years when I hear something that sounds to hairy to be true. I have found that people I know that bad mouth Snopes are people that hear some thing untrue that fits their agenda and they just don't want to know the truth.
Terri says
Everyone has a touch of bias in them. Everyone. We all look at the world through some sort of glasses...some political..our angle of history...
Even Snopes has a touch of bias, I've noticed. They definitely lean a certain way politically. And I have heard in other ways: historically inaccurate.
That is why I always also check truthorfiction.com
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/baby-cut-carrots.htm#.U775tyhFvS8
Preethi says
Thank you for this post. Good to have the info from a trusted blog. I remember hearing about this chlorine-soaking business and intended to research whether it was true. That was 2 years ago. Just remembered that intention this morning (but haven't eaten baby carrots since!).
LoCo Mom says
I can't help but laugh at someone who begins by saying, "Your all stupid."
Jenn says
Yes, thanks for clearing it up. I hadn't heard chlorine, but formaldehyde. Don't laugh! It's surprising what they sneak into the processed food out there, despite it sounding crazy. But I won't feel so bad eating the occasional bag.
R Coley says
This is my first time reading this site. Where is the paranoid, delusional poster claiming this young woman is paid off by the company she queried regarding the carrots? Come on! Somebody step up! Make your own choices about food based on the best facts you believe true. I grew up very close to a Conoco refinery so I'm already damaged beyond repair and marinate my baby carrots in 10W30.
Michelle says
I don't buy baby carrots because the skin is removed, and most of the vitamins and nutriens are in the skin of fruits and vegetables!! Always srub your veggies in filtered (removes the chlorine) and eat them skin-on.
Karin says
I agree Michelle - anyone can tell you what you want to hear when you call them. The GMA is on Monsanto's side so why not the product manufacturers. I don't need baby ready to eat carrots - I can grow, wash and eat my own in any size I desire.
Rachel says
I was about to order a 3 day cleanse,and I called and asked about the carrots in there juice. They say there carrots are unpeeled when they juice them. They claim its healthier to leave the skin on.. Is this true? The website where they sell the 3 day cleanse is ourisfruit.com. Its only $99 for the 3 day program, so I really want to order it. Any advise?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there Rachel. Sorry, but I know nothing about this product. I can say that there is nothing wrong with leaving the skin on the carrot as long as it has been thoroughly cleaned. ~Amy
saleemab morris says
I found this information very informative..thank you and God Bless for taking the time to post this informagion..thanks again...
Rita says
Thank you for the clarification on baby carrots. I feel much better now when eating the occasional bag of baby carrots. :) I personally have never noticed a chlorine smell but heard a rumour. And you are right, what's the difference between rinsing your food under chlorinated tap water and having a quick bath in it.
Stephanie says
All I know is my nose tells me not to eat these! The strong chlorine smell that hits me when a bag of baby carrots is opened is overwhelming. Take an extra minute and cut up your own organic carrots!
Mel says
If you'd like to have a visual of the process
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lNy948H2ta4
Karen says
Chlorine aka bleach is used in medical practices all the time. A very small amount diluted is very effective in killing bad bacteria. My kids love baby carrots and they are so convenient,
Jennifer says
Thank you for posting this and educating those who are to lazy to research it for themselves! I had already looked into the baby carrot situation and was pleased with the research I found. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE, of course, is the fact that they do use the chlorine. Which I understand their reasoning. BUT, as for me and my family, we don't use tap water or bottled water. So in the future I will not be buying baby carrots =( If I'm going to live a healthier life I have to take control of every aspect, not just the organic food side. Obviously, there are things you can't avoid unless you live in a bubble. But I CAN control what I consume. I hope everyone can educate themselves further and do a little research on tap water, bottled water (all beverages in that case) and endocrine disruptors. Living healthy goes beyond organic food. Hope everyone has a healthy and blessed year!!!
clayton says
i got freaked out from baby cutted carotts for the 1st time i know a girl who eats them and she thinks that if you eat too many of them she thinks they might cost u to turn into a baby and i was freaked out from the 1st time but i got over it i am trying to find out if baby cutted carrots costs u to turn into a baby i am trying to give her this example so she will stop freaking out
Janice says
I've heard they were soaked in lye water for the peeling process.
Jackie @ChroniclesofaDietitian says
This is great information! I always wondered how baby carrots differed from the large varieties. It is good to know with all the health rumors floating around that one of my favorite snacks can stay that way!
Jane says
I don't often buy baby carrots, only because they seem to turn my white fillings orange. Unlike the regular carrots. So, obviously, they're adding a colourant to the carrots.
Paul Haslam says
I guess that not everyone has the option of growing their own carrots and may also not have the storage capacity for fresh foods. I am glad that people like yourself does the research and informs people of potential hazards. Quite often our health is determined by income levels as some of us have to work long hours to get ends to meet but I am in an ideal situation where I live off the grid and rely to a large degree on available resources for survival but carrots and other veges are seasonal so I am still reliant on the supermarket in the off season and have often wondered how these so called fresh veges are available year round. This perpetual freshness has often been a source of concern for me since medical intervention is far from convenient. I assume the processes in Australia are either the same or very similar to those in the USA so your information is useful here as well. Cheers
Julie says
@carrotcrusader, you should most likely see an allergist. Even if you're not allergic to carrots, you may have an allergy to the pollen in raw carrots. I have this specific allergy and all of the things you described are similar to what I experience when I eat raw carrots.
Stephanie says
Thank you for posting this! It was very informative, especially this time of year when some people will turn up their noses at baby carrots because they heard they were soaked in bleach. If it weren't for baby carrots, I might be munching on something far worse, plus it adds to my veggie intake, is quick to throw on salads, etc. In an ideal world, I would buy organic carrots and cut them myself. I will consider doing this in the future. Thanks again!
Esther says
Hi, I totally appreciate that you did some research on your own about them little carrots! Please do yourself a favor and buy the regular carrots at the health food store and peel, chop and enjoy! I tested these suckers a few months back. I bought some and put in the fridge, next to them I bought some fresh carrots and placed them there too. The little carrots stayed fresh for almost 3 months--the fresh carrots started to go bad 2 weeks later I mean by bad, soft not rotten. You can do this yourself in your own fridge if you don't believe me! So my conclusion was that there HAS to be some sort of chemical on them little carrots for them to last that long...do your own homework!!!
Dan says
I completely agree with you! Besides, this post seems like it was commissioned by the baby carrot company, seriously.
Elizabeth says
Yes Dan it is one big Baby Carrot conspiracy to take over the world, one healthy person at a time...
Virginia Schmecker says
I have recently steamed some baby carrots and the steam run off water was real green. When I steam cut up carrots it is orange. I was wondering why that is if there is not something on them???
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Virginia. I know that carrots can sometimes turn green in baking as a reaction to baking soda but I've not heard anything about water turning green when boiling. Chlorophyll, maybe? Sorry I can't be more helpful. ~Amy
Jennifer says
Maybe the carrots weren't the cause for the green color? Remember, your tap water if FULL of harmful toxins and endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors have a nickname, gender bending chemicals. The carrots should be the least of your worries if you are steaming them with tap water. When people decide to take control of their lives and start eating better, they should consider looking at everything around them. Not just focusing all of their attention on organic foods and healthy recipes, even though that's part of it. But, it's just one part. Everything we eat, drink, touch, smell and breathe plays a huge role in our health today. I don't claim to have all the answers and I don't know why you had a green color. I just highly recommend you use filtered or alkaline water on everything you consume.
Minh says
Great article. Thanks for the information. I eat organic and grow my own carrots but I just bought a bag of baby carrots and it had me wondering. :)
UNNIKRISHNAN says
Is Baby Carrots better than other regular carrots
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there. No not better. It is a matter of preference. I prefer full size carrots and think they taste better. :) ~Amy