It is about TRUST
Are the labels we are reading telling the truth?
When we step into the grocery store or buy products online, we are putting a lot of trust in the labels of the food we buy or the information that is provided to us by that product.
How do we really know that what they say is in the ingredients listing is really in there? How do we know that food says sourced locally is really sourced from where they say it is? And is the food really made organically or with organic ingredients? Are there hidden ingredients that have not been taken into account?
These are all good questions.
Hi all, if you like what you are reading and would like to support my writing, please consider a paid subscription. I will be offering some special content to my paid subscribers. Extra information, downloads, e-books and some surprises.
Please do not forget to click the ❤ button below and comment if you have questions or just want to say Hi!. I love hearing from my readers.
There have been some recent controversies in regards to our foods and labeling.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil - the other healthy fruit oil. This oil hit the market in the 1990’s and was touted as the new healthy oil. Made from the pulp of the avocado, it is high in monosaturated fats.
Used for cooking, this oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor..But not with out some controversy.
In a study conducted by UC Davis in 2020, they found that 82% of avocado oil they tested were either rancid or mixed with other oils.
Study Finds 82 Percent of Avocado Oil Rancid or Mixed With Other Oils | UC Davis
In three cases, bottles labeled as “pure” or “extra virgin” avocado oil contained near 100 percent soybean oil, an oil commonly used in processed foods that’s much less expensive to produce.
LMNT Electrolytes
Most recently LMNT electrolytes were called out for the mislabeling of their product and not listing maltodextrin on their list when consumers found that it contained 100 times more then stated by the company.
LMNT advertises that they do not use sugar and no dodge ingredients, of which maltodextrin fits under both those categories.
Maltodextrin is an additive in foods made from corn that is a made to replace sugar with a glycemic index higher than sugar. It is used to improve shelf life, texture and taste.
It was found that the electrolyte company did not disclose the full amount of maltodextrin in its products. And it was found that 4mg of maltodextrin was actually 100 times more then was discussed on the LMNT website. Read more here:
What's the deal with natural flavors
Now, it really does not work out to a large amount of maltodextrin per package, but for those who are sensitive or have issues with the additive, or already struggling with gut inflammation, the fact that this was mislabeled could cause issues.
Words Matter
There are many times that you read the front label of a product and you are drawn to it because it says, ‘all natural, sugar free, organic, low fat’ . Oh and I love the ones that says ‘made with real fruit’ or ‘grass - fed’ beef. Then there is the labelling on eggs - organic, free range, pasture raised, free run….These are all up for interpretation and the companies know this because the regulations for labelling can get ‘murky’. And usually there is no push back from regulators unless complaints are made.
Many will just read that front label and not turn over to read the actual ingredients or question the butcher at the meat counter. We just buy and go.
All-Natural has no real meaning when it comes to marketing products. ‘The FDA has considered the term "natural" to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food. However, this policy was not intended to address food production methods, such as the use of pesticides, nor did it explicitly address food processing or manufacturing methods, such as thermal technologies, pasteurization, or irradiation. The FDA also did not consider whether the term "natural" should describe any nutritional or other health benefit.’ Use of the Term Natural on Food Labeling | FDA
A product that says sugar-free, yet you turn over to see the ingredient label to find ‘maltodextrin’ - a sugar derivative..
Grass Fed Beef. Picture the cattle, grazing on grass in the pasture and that no grain is involved. Well, again that is up for interpretation. Diving deep into this labelling model, quite honestly was confusing to me.
From a marketing standpoint, "Grass-fed beef" simply means that the beef was produced on a diet primarily consisting of grass and was finished without grain. That's it. Grass Fed Beef - the marketing label vs. the farming strategies
But this does not take into consideration how it was produced. There are many different ways that the beef is ‘farmed’. It does not always mean that the cattle are enjoying life, munching on grass in the pasture. They could still be housed in a feed lot and given the grass to eat.
Producers who feed grain can make a grass fed claim if they spell out the percentage of grass on the label: 90 percent grass fed, 75 percent grass fed, 10 percent grass fed, and so on. The Facts About The USDA's AMS Grassfed Marketing Claim Recission - American Grassfed Association
I see this label all the time at certain grocery stores - grass fed. Next time I will be asking if there is a percentage or are they fully grass fed, grass finished..
Buyer Beware
I guess this all comes down to buyer beware. You are the only one that is accountable for the food that you are buying and consuming.
Learn to ask questions.
Research the products to learn about their quality assurance and their marketing practices. Where do they source their ingredients from? If it meets your standards (and we all have different levels of standards), then it is your choice to buy and consume that product.
How much TRUST are you putting into the labels that you read?
Danni
Want to try the Carnivore/Keto Lifestyle and looking for support?
Have you been curious about all the buzz about the Carnivore lifestyle. Are you struggling with some health issues and looking for a way to help?
January is World Carnivore Month and for paid subscribers I will be providing extra content, recipes and online chat support as you navigate this different eating lifestyle.
If you subscribe for a year, you will receive 17% of the annual price. If you subscribe as a founding member, you will receive a FREE 30 minute Health consultation.
That’s so frustrating about the avocado oil. But there is a way to check and see if it’s been cut with seed oil, by putting it in the fridge and seeing if it has solidified. If it gets solid in the fridge, that means it doesn’t have soybean oil or canola oil. One of the reasons that the big companies love canola oil so much (other than it’s so cheap) is because when you make salad dressing out of it, it will stay liquid in the fridge. Olive oil and avocado oil, however, get solid when they cool off.