As a longtime carrot connoisseur, I love every type out there. Except for one: packaged baby carrots. That’s right, those unnaturally perfect miniature carrot-like specimens that are sold everywhere from upscale grocery stores to gas stations to corporate office vending machines. Theyre actually bad in every way.
Ever since baby carrots were “invented” in the 1980s, marketers have conned us into believing that theyre the ultimate healthy snack, a convenient way to enjoy veggies on the go. Sure, they may be snackable and convenient, but they’re definitely not what you think they are. Here’s why you should think twice about snagging a bag:
A baby carrot is a carrot harvested before reaching maturity and sold at that smaller size. A baby-cut carrot is a small piece cut from a larger carrot; baby-cut carrots are often marketed as “baby carrots”, leading to potential confusion.
Wait, what? Chlorine, you say, as in the same chemical you find in the community pool?
When FoxNews.com contacted Bolthouse Farms, the nation’s second largest carrot producer, spokeswoman Kathleen Corless said the company didn’t want to be interviewed. “We don’t want to keep perpetuating the myth that baby carrots are dyed or bleached,” she said.
“I have had clients bring up concerns regarding baby carrots after some rumors about the processing of baby carrots involving ‘soaking them in chlorine or bleach,’” Bade said, adding that the carrots are safe to eat.
In order to create thinner vegetables, baby carrots are planted closer together than traditional carrots. In as little as 120 days from planting, the carrots are dug up and trucked to the processing house to be cut and peeled. But before packaging, all carrots receive a brisk scrub accompanied by a chlorine bath.
Baby carrots have long been a favorite lunch box staple. Parents love them because theyre conveniently sized and they’re seen as a healthy food choice. Kids love them because they’re sweet and pretty fun to eat…as far as veggies go.
Ever since baby carrots were “invented” in the 1980s, marketers have conned us into believing that theyre the ultimate healthy snack, a convenient way to enjoy veggies on the go. Sure, they may be snackable and convenient, but they’re definitely not what you think they are. Here’s why you should think twice about snagging a bag:
As a longtime carrot connoisseur, I love every type out there. Except for one: packaged baby carrots. That’s right, those unnaturally perfect miniature carrot-like specimens that are sold everywhere from upscale grocery stores to gas stations to corporate office vending machines. Theyre actually bad in every way.
How baby carrots are made
FAQ
Do baby carrots taste the same as regular carrots?
Are whole carrots more nutritious than baby carrots?
Do you need to wash cut and peeled carrots?
Are baby cut carrots good for you?
Are baby carrots really ‘baby cuts’?
We decided to dig up the truth on baby carrots, and here’s what we found. Most baby carrots sold in U.S. supermarkets are really what the industry calls “baby cuts.” These babies are made from longer carrots that have been peeled and cut into a smaller size.
What is the difference between regular carrots and baby carrots?
The difference between regular carrots and baby carrots is most evident if you examine their core. While a regular carrot has a substantial core, a baby carrot has a very small one. Commercial baby carrots are grown year-round and you can find them any time of year at your local grocer.
Are baby carrots a real thing?
Myth #1: Baby Carrots are grown in the perfect 2-inch form that we know them as. Baby carrots aren’t actually grown this way. They are cut from larger carrots and then polished and washed by machines. This is why they are so uniform in shape and size. A farmer in California, Mike Yurosek, first invented this practice in 1986.
What are baby carrots?
Baby carrots were invented by a California carrot farmer, Mike Yurosek. In the early 1980s, Yurosek found that many of his carrots were not saleable because they were “ugly” — they weren’t the size or shape that could be sold at the grocery store.