Unveiling Truths: The Art of Label Reading for Wellness

I may be a little obsessed...

My trips to the grocery store take a little longer these days as I tend to stop and read labels of foods. I would call these weekly excursions ‘field trips’ rather then grocery shopping trips. And every time I learn something new.

I know, I know. It has become an obsession and I think that I may have a problem but…Do you know what they are putting in food these days? It is amazing how many people are not aware and are taking the product at face value without looking behind the front label. And it isn’t all about the nutrition label. Sure I look at that label for sugar or protein content, but the real meat of the label is the ingredient listing. We learn more about the food and what is in it.

We have all heard - ‘stay away from artificial colors, MSG (monosodium glutamate). preservatives like sodium benzoate or BHT/BHA. But I have taken a few not so well known items and broken the ingredients down. Do you really know what maltodextrin is? DATEM? or Tripotassium phosphate?

And even though chemical food additives have been given the GRAS label (generally regarded as safe), there is no real safe limit established so we do not know the full extent of damage these additives can do to the body. They have been linked to certain disease and illnesses.

Maltodextrin

A white processed substance derived from the chemical processing of plant product, usually from corn, or wheat. It is closely related to corn syrup but is less than 20% sugar whereas corn syrup is at least 20% sugar. So in basic terms this is a processed sugar product.

So let’s look at this product. Marketed as fat free, sugar free.

But is it really sugar free?

Well if you are looking for the word SUGAR, it is not in the ingredient listing so technically this product is sugar free But notice the second ingredient…Maltodextrin - a chemically processed sugar based product. But because it only has 20% sugar content, they can market this product as sugar free. But it isn’t.

The glycemic index (GI) in maltodextrin is higher than in table sugar.

What Is Maltodextrin? (webmd.com)

Also be aware that maltodextrin can cause stomach issues, allergic reactions and are usually made from GMO crops.

Read more about GMO in a previous article.

Unveiling Glyphosate - How It Affects Our Health (substack.com)

DATEM

Diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono & diglycerides. Or DATEM as listed on some labels is made primarily from processing soybean oil or ethanol, is a white powder, an ester used as an emulsifier or dough conditioner to help maintain texture and to extend shelf life. This additive is commonly found in coffee creamers, ice cream, salad dressings, soups and breads. It can also be found in cosmetics. Basically if you see ingredient listing have mono & diglycerides on it, best to stay clear of it.

The full ingredient listing is scarce as is how it is fully made and this additive is considered ‘safe’ for consumption but has been linked to adrenal overgrowth and heart muscle fibrosis

What is DATEM (E472e) in Bread? Made of, Uses, Safety, Side effects (foodadditives.net)

Tripotassium Phosphate

Are you a cereal person? If you are, then you are probably ingesting tripotassium phosphate on the daily. Have you ever wondered what that was or why it is in your cereal?

Tripotassium phosphate is used in food as an emulsifier, regulates acidity, improves texture and is a sodium free version of trisodium phosphate (TSP is a mildew remover, degreasing agent, and used to clean exterior and interior walls before painting). Tripotassium phosphate is also a powerful cleaning agent and has known also be used as a fertilizer. And it can cause allergic reactions, stomach upset and has been linked to impaired kidney function. Even though, once again this chemical additive is GRAS, I would highly recommend avoiding it as much as possible.

These are just a a few in the large basket of food additives to avoid. As always the best way to avoid all food additives is to eat whole foods as much as possible.

We may not be able to avoid all these chemicals in our food all the time but by knowing what is in food, we can make healthier choices with other alternatives.

And also, do not always believe what the front label is telling you. All natural, sugar free, no artificial preservatives. These are marketing terms that companies use to get your attention.

Danni