Read Labels on the Food Products

by Sanjana - Dietitian on 14. Oct, 2008 in Health

Watch out for statements like these on packages:

NATURAL FRUIT FLAVORS, with Real Fruit Juice
ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS
NO ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES
100% NATURAL
REAL FRUIT
NO PRESERVATIVES
NO ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS

These are the common labels present on cartons of various products. Statements like these do not mean there are no harmful additives in the product. There may be harmful ingredients… The manufacturer hopes you’ll think there are no harmful ingredients, but as you will see from the following examples, it’s not true. Buying a product in a health food store does not guarantee that packaged products you buy will be free of harmful additives either. So, it’s important to always READ LABELS VERY CAREFULLY.” …
“ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS and NO ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES ADDED does not mean there are no harmful additives in the product. The ingredients from a loaf of bread that states on the label in big letters, ‘ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS,’ and ‘NO ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES ADDED,’ are: Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, malted barley, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin), water, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, wheat bran, vital wheat gluten, butter. Contains 2% or less of each of the following: rye meal, corn flour, molasses, rolled whole wheat, salt, dough conditioners (ammonium sulfate, sodium stearoyl lactylate), brown sugar, honey, vinegar, oatmeal, soy flour, mono and diglycerides, partially hydrogenated soybean oil.
Here is an analysis of the ingredients.

Enriched wheat flour is white flour-The bran and the germ portion of the whole wheat, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, have been refined out. To compensate for refining out approximately 20 nutrients, they add back 4 synthetic nutrients, niacin (vitamin B3), reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate (synthetic vitamin B1), and riboflavin (vitamin B2). These nutrient additives…are added to mostly refined and processed foods giving a false sense of nutritional value and can lead to nutritional imbalances.
High fructose corn syrup is basically sugar derived from corn. It is associated with blood sugar problems, depression, fatigue, B-vitamin deficiency, hyperactivity, tooth decay, periodontal disease and indigestion.
Dough Conditioners, in general, can cause mineral deficiencies.
Ammonium sulfate may cause mouth ulcers, nausea, kidney and liver problems.
Sodium stearoyl lactylate may be corn, milk, peanut or soy based, and may cause blood pressure and kidney disturbances, and water retention.
Brown sugar is frequently white sugar with molasses added. It is associated with blood sugar problems, depression, fatigue, B-vitamin deficiency, hyperactivity, tooth decay, periodontal disease and indigestion.
Mono and diglycerides may be soy, corn, peanut or fat based. They may cause genetic changes, cancer, birth defects, and allergic reactions.
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil is associated with heart disease, breast and colon cancer, atherosclerosis and elevated cholesterol.