Hi all,
Occasionally I read about using charcoal for gas, instead of something like simethicone. The other day, I found them at the store and bought some. But when I got home and paid a little more attention to the ingredients, I saw "edible black ink" listed. What the heck?? Why would they put that in there? Is that so when we poop the next time, and it's black, we think it's really doing something??? I'm going to return them. I just don't think we need to be eating ink!
Has anyone ever tried these, and if so, how did they do? I'd hate to be burping up ink spray all night!
Squids make ink. I wonder if it is edible? Squids are edible. ROFL
I'm guessing the "edible black ink" is used as a colorant, not an active ingredient. After all, what color should charcoal be? If by making it medicinal it comes out gray, then people might think something's wrong with it and won't use it, so the manufacturers color it up a bit. A lot of our food is colored because of our preconceived notions about what colors things should be, not because it has or needs color. I get some spicy crab dip a lot that is tinted pinky-orange. When I made some from the same ingredient list at home (minus the food coloring), it came out kind of gray (because of the dark crab meat). So either people think that's not an appealing dip color, or they want the pinky-orange color to make it look spicy. You don't imagine gray dip to have cajun spices in it, do you? Cajun spices make food red... or so we think.
Since you bought them, go ahead and try them. If they relieve your gas, then you know they work, regardless of what color they may or may not make your poop. Would you be more willing to try them if instead of "edible black ink" it said "Black #35"? All food dyes boil down to the same thing, really.
I'm guessing the "edible black ink" is used as a colorant, not an active ingredient. After all, what color should charcoal be? If by making it medicinal it comes out gray, then people might think something's wrong with it and won't use it, so the manufacturers color it up a bit. A lot of our food is colored because of our preconceived notions about what colors things should be, not because it has or needs color. I get some spicy crab dip a lot that is tinted pinky-orange. When I made some from the same ingredient list at home (minus the food coloring), it came out kind of gray (because of the dark crab meat). So either people think that's not an appealing dip color, or they want the pinky-orange color to make it look spicy. You don't imagine gray dip to have cajun spices in it, do you? Cajun spices make food red... or so we think.
Since you bought them, go ahead and try them. If they relieve your gas, then you know they work, regardless of what color they may or may not make your poop. Would you be more willing to try them if instead of "edible black ink" it said "Black #35"? All food dyes boil down to the same thing, really.
Thanks Keriamon,
I suppose you're right...........but "black ink" sounded alot worse than "Black #35"! lol! I just pictured it turning my intestines black, and staining the toilet bowl!
I suppose you're right...........but "black ink" sounded alot worse than "Black #35"! lol! I just pictured it turning my intestines black, and staining the toilet bowl!
Yeah, I agree with you on the "edible black ink" thing. Come to think of it, I wonder what DO they make food coloring from? I know Kool-Aid tropical punch will turn your poop red, lol.
I have tried some charcol pills I bought at walgreens, they didn't help at all.
hey CathyA,
i would probably be carefull with those charcoal biscuits because burnt food is known to be cancerous. I'm sure the odd one or two to help with bloating every now and then would be fine but i wouldn't have thought they would be a good long term option
just my opinion... 
Thanks for the warning roadtrip.
If I'm going to get cancer from charcoal.......I want it to be from eating too many grilled ribeyes. lol!
If I'm going to get cancer from charcoal.......I want it to be from eating too many grilled ribeyes. lol!
I don't know what that charcoal is made out of, but grill charcoal is baked wood. They heat it at high temps and bake all of the moisutre and impurities out of it, so I don't think you can really call it "burnt".
By any chance, is there printing of any kind on the capsule?
Hi Foggie,
I'm thinking of returning them, so I don't want to open the package of them, but I can see them in their bubble wrap, and they are bright pink, but I don't see any writing. Why do you ask?
I'm thinking of returning them, so I don't want to open the package of them, but I can see them in their bubble wrap, and they are bright pink, but I don't see any writing. Why do you ask?
Just thinking that perhaps, it could be why edible black ink was listed. You could also call the manufacturer to ask even if you're not going to keep them. If the ink isn't used for printing, I would wonder what it's doing in there too.
Oh.....I didn't think of it being for printing on the capsule! I think I'll call them. Thanks.
I jsut bought some Charcocaps to try and there is black writing on the tablet. My guess is that is what it refers to. they have to put everything down that is used.
Thanks Canyonbabe,
The writing must be on the other side of the capsule, in the package, and I couldn't see it.
The writing must be on the other side of the capsule, in the package, and I couldn't see it.
I guess that's why they don't list it as black #35 (or whatever); it's not a food coloring/dye, it really is edible black ink, LOL.
I am surprised the pills are pink, though.
I am surprised the pills are pink, though.
Better than charcoal colored. LOL, I was surprised also but I hated to think about swallowing something the color of charcoal. I still haven't used them.
Canyonbabe.....can you see the writing on them through the bubble wrap that they're in? Are your's called "Charcocaps"?
Canyon & Cathy,
Have you tried the charcoal?
I'm just curious to see how/if they work.
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
Have you tried the charcoal?
I'm just curious to see how/if they work.
Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
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Yes, mine are Charcocaps. They are pink.
7Lil......no, I haven't tried them yet! I'm a real scaredy-cat to try new things! But they're sitting here! Plus, fortunately, I haven't had really bad bloating lately (knock on wood!)