Black activated charcoal chia pudding. Photo: Getty ImagesA Canterbury expert says we're witnessing a hijacking with the current trend of putting activated charcoal in our foods, drinks and beauty and dental products. Activated charcoal is made by heating unactivated charcoal to a very high temperature in the presence of an inert gas. "It looks like the Phoenicians in around about 400 BC actually made activated charcoal by heating charcoal in a fire to very high temperatures. Professor Shaw is skeptical about the benefits of activated charcoal in beauty products, like face masks.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 27, 2020 21:11 UTC