Activated carbon: superfood or pointless trend?

Activated carbon has been found in all sorts of products for several years – from cosmetics to food. The activated carbon is supposed to make them particularly healthy, but consumer advocates warn.

In recent years, activated charcoal has become increasingly popular as a dietary supplement and wellness trend. You can find numerous products with added activated carbon in the drugstore and supermarket, for example toothpaste, peelings, ice cream or bread. Manufacturers use activated carbon as a dye that turns these creams and foods black. This food trend is called “Black Food”. The European Food Safety Authority classifies the substance as harmless to health. It has the E number E153.

Due to its special properties, activated carbon is said to make products healthier or more effective than conventional versions. Manufacturers advertise that activated charcoal is antibacterial and detoxifying, makes teeth whiter and can do much more. But scientific evidence is still missing.

What is activated carbon and how does it work?

Activated charcoal, also known as medicinal charcoal, is a specially treated form of charcoal. It is made by burning natural carbon sources or other organic materials and then activating it with steam or chemicals to create its porous structure. These pores make activated carbon an effective adsorbent, meaning it is able to bind gases, liquids and contaminants to its surface.

Because of this ability, activated carbon has long been used in medicine. According to the Pharmazeutische Zeitung, activated carbon is used to adsorb swallowed toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, transport them out of the body and thus prevent poisoning.

Activated charcoal is also sometimes used for diarrhea. Their effect in this regard is said to be based on the adsorption of bacteria, bacterial toxins and other toxic substances, but according to the Pharmazeutische Zeitung, the German Society for Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) advises against the use of activated charcoal for acute infectious diarrhea because of the scientific evidence missing.

The ability of activated carbon to bind (toxic) substances from the body has brought manufacturers into the field of wellness and health. They enrich their products with it and advertise them as “detoxifying” or otherwise healthier.

Is activated charcoal healthy?

The science journalist and chemist Dr. Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim gives activated carbon a health check in her video:

• Activated carbon is said to bind poisons: This is actually true and activated carbon is also used in medicine to treat poisoning. Because activated carbon molecules bind poison molecules to themselves.

The problem: activated carbon molecules also bind many good substances, such as vitamins and antioxidants. But we don’t actually want to excrete them with the activated carbon, we want them to be absorbed by the body. The Bavarian Consumer Center therefore warns: “If activated charcoal is consumed frequently, vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as constipation can occur.”

Eating foods containing activated charcoal is particularly worrying if you are also taking medication or birth control pills. Because they too could be bound and excreted by the activated carbon.

• Activated charcoal for detoxification: “Detoxification” is at least as big a hype as black food. Completely unnecessary, because in order to eliminate toxins, only the liver and kidneys need to function properly.

Activated carbon in cosmetics: what does it do?

Face creams, masks, peelings – you can now find activated carbon in all of these and even more cosmetic and hygiene products. But there has been little research into how healthy activated charcoal is for the skin. Nevertheless, many manufacturers advertise promises for which there is no scientific evidence, explains Dr. Mai Thi Nguyen Kim.

• In chemistry, activated carbon is sometimes used to make a contaminated substance pure again. The activated carbon binds the contamination and can then be removed. Manufacturers of cosmetics also promise a cleansing effect based on this principle.
• However, in chemistry, the liquid with the activated carbon has to be shaken for a long time and takes some time. With creams, you would theoretically have to immerse your face in water and rub the activated charcoal over your skin for a long time. However, activated charcoal does not have an advantage here, as simple soap works just as well.

In 2016, Öko-Test tested various cosmetics with activated carbon. Not a single one of the 15 cosmetic products tested scored “good” in the test; nine products failed. The reason:

• None of the manufacturers were able to provide studies that demonstrated the effectiveness of the products.
• Öko-Test has detected traces of naphthalene in some cosmetic products. The substance is created during coal production and is considered carcinogenic (BfR).

Conclusion: activated carbon is a pointless trend

There is no scientific proof that activated charcoal in toothpastes actually whitens teeth. This is the result of an extensive study from 2017, which summarized all research results published up to that point. There is also evidence that activated charcoal can be harmful in dental care:

• Over time, the charcoal wears away tooth enamel and makes the teeth more susceptible to disease.
• Some activated carbon toothpastes failed Öko-Test because they contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and PEG derivatives. According to the Federal Environment Agency, both substances are potentially carcinogenic and are difficult to break down in the environment.

Conclusion: Activated carbon gives food a chic black look, but nothing more. A positive effect on health has not been proven for either food or cosmetic products. On the contrary: we should only consume activated charcoal in small quantities because it can bind important nutrients. Anyone taking medication or birth control pills should avoid using activated charcoal in their food as a precaution.

Read more at Utopia:

• Haskap: New superfood or unnecessary hype?
• Clean Eating Nutrition Trend: What’s Behind It?
• Wheatgrass juice: healthy miracle cure or exaggerated hype?

English version available: What Does Activated Charcoal Do? 7 Uses in Health & Household

Edited by Annika Reketat