Deceptive packaging is everywhere. The reason is because the FDA allows it. Terms like “natural” and “artisanal” are not regulated and therefore mean nothing. Companies can promote their factory-made high-fructose cookies with carcinogenic dyes as natural and artisanal—even if there’s MSG in them. So ignore all the hype, all the buzz-words on the package plus the romance copy which will also lead you astray, and just read the ingredients. Here are some great examples.
Seaweed with olive oil. Sounds pure and healthy. What’s not to love?
Wait—what are all these crap oils doing in my seaweed? I bet there’s only one drop of olive oil per package…or half a drop. And I’m really excited that it comes from Korea. I bet there’s no regulation at all there. Hey, maybe there’s some human hair added for protein…
Oo la la—gourmet. Sounds like it was made in an upscale kitchen….
Soybean oil. The cheapest oil of all. Closely correlated with inflammation, linked to Alzheimers. A hydrogenated version, too, just to make sure you get your dose of trans-fat. Artificial flavor and color, margarine—the fakest of all foods, sodium alginate–what the H is that?
Wholesome. What a great word. And it’s written in such big letters, so it must be true! And organic? That seals the deal. Must be the elixir of youth.
Wait a minute! It’s not even maple syrup! Fooled you!
Fresh attractions. Looks very fresh and attractive indeed. How badly can you ruin an almond, a macadamia nut, a raisin, and a chocolate chip?
Wow—500 ingredients—that is madness! Especially the hydrogenated rapeseed. Did you know that rapeseed is poisonous even when it’s not hydrogenated? It’s also a transfat!
Another term to beware: natural flavors. There’s a lot of naturally occurring substances that are toxic—like arsenic. And plenty more synthetic ones that fly under the radar of the FDA because guess what—the agency is full of former Monsanto executives and others from the Food Mafia with obvious conflicts of interest and no reason to want to protect American consumers.
Read Your Ingredients!
And don’t trust anything. Unless it comes from the Good Food Fighter 😉
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