So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (Full Version)

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agapetos -> So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 6:51:04 PM)

And more importantly, how shocked are you by what you read?

I watched a programme a while back and the chef showed how much salt and sugar was put into some pasta sauces. I've bought them in the past and was vaguely aware that there would be extra added salt and sugar, but not too worried about the amount.

However, I was sorting my ktchen cupboards out the other day and came across an old tub and had it with my evening meal tonight. After eating, I looked at the packaging to find where on the ingredients list they both showed up.

They weren't right at the top, but they were by no means at the bottom. What did freak me out though was that the sauce had 2% chilli and with ingredients beling listed in order of amount used, sugar and salt were both higher on the list[sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif][sm=icon_smile_faint.gif][sm=eek.gif][sm=crazy.gif].

I suspect that I won't be buying that particular sauce, if any, ever again.

Not to mention, I'll be looking even closer at labels in future.



Julie1955 -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 7:16:21 PM)

Pretty closely. I'm trying to avoid buying products which list high fructose corn syrup and those that are loaded with salt. I even read those labelled as organic, as even they can be high in salt. And forget buying anything with Splenda.



agapetos -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 7:23:22 PM)

quote:

And forget buying anything with Splenda.
I don't buy anything with artificial sweetner in it, unless I goof. I know most of the foods that I eat are ok, but do check new ones...

I just didn't realise that sauce was so bad! It was a 150g tub and the 2% chilli would have been 3g, and with sugar and salt higher[&:]. I found it interesting that they gave the quantity of chilli but not sugar or salt...

What they don't tell us I guess!



monamie -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 7:54:02 PM)

I read labels on everything I buy because the nasty stuff is lurking in the most unlikely places!!!!



Harvie -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 9:45:50 PM)

I read labels very carefully.... looking at all sorts of information (carbs, protein, cholesterol, fiber, additives) ... plus I look for things like HFCS, hydrogenated oils, added sugar (under a dozen different names), sucralose, MSG, etc.



MrsTracy72 -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 10:43:51 PM)

I do read my labels, but I mostly look for the fat, calories, and sugar so I can try to avoid them as much as possible. (baby carrots rock!) And I also look at the protein and fiber in them because I know we do eat pretty healthy.

I cook and bake alot so I get to control what goes into my food.



agapetos -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 10:59:16 PM)

It's interesting, the first thing I look for is whether it has artificial sweetner, then hydroginated oil, then added sugar and salt and then look at the other nutritional information.

I get frustrated when I find something that sounds good but deep down the list of ingredients has something [:'(].

It's all become much easier now that I'm cooking more though[:)]



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/26/2008 11:11:19 PM)

our daughter is allergic to corn syrup, so I read every label, and at one time had to keep every label for a dietary book we keep on her. I have food lists from all the major fast food chains too....with dietary stuff on them. Sometimes when she has too much sugar it causes her to react the same as with CS....so we have to watch how much sugar too. I am not not ever shocked when I read them, but I used to be when we first started finding out about the CS allergy....it's amazing what all it is in!!!!



Harvie -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/27/2008 12:37:44 AM)

I have to say that I love the list of ingredients in Fritos ... corn, corn oil and salt. Sure, it's not the healthiest thing out there ... but at least they aren't filled with all sorts of weird additives and chemicals, ya know? (And, according to my husband, you can light them on fire and use them as mini torches. I do NOT want to know why he knows this!)

[sm=funny.gif]



solo_soprano22 -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/27/2008 12:46:45 AM)

I don't really read labels. I find that most of the processed foods are generally not so great altogether when it comes to ingredients. I can't eat "whole" foods usually because I react to them; the more it's stripped/processed the better it is (for me).



granolagirl -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/27/2008 9:48:22 AM)

The main thing I look to avoid is High Fructose Corn Syrup (or just plain corn syrup), hydrogenated oils, MSG and other sugars of sorts.
I pay attention to the grams of sugar too because I tend to be a sweet freak and I'm trying to get a handle on my sugar consumption.



rainbowtvp -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/27/2008 11:40:05 AM)

I read the ingredients of everything I eat, because I have food allergies. But I don't worry a whole lot about the nutrition info, because I basically eat whole foods- rice, veggies, meat, etc.

The only time I read the nutrition stuff is to see how many calories/sodium and how much is a serving for processed foods (though, like I said, I rarely eat those!). And I try to only choose processed foods that have only "real" foods in the ingredients list.

I was so ticked the other day. I had seen those "Grapples" in the store (has anyone seen them?)- apples that taste like grapes- cool, right? Some special variety, I figured, like broccoflower. Well, as I was divving them up for Easter baskets, I noticed the label... Apples with natural and artifical grape flavoring![:@]

Now even our produce has artificial flavorings?!?

Tara P



agapetos -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/27/2008 12:49:09 PM)

quote:

(And, according to my husband, you can light them on fire and use them as mini torches. I do NOT want to know why he knows this!)
Your husband is correct. I found it out because of watching a couple of programmes (mostly to do with children and nutrition) and the dietitian/doctor would light one to show the kids just how fatty they were.



StephK -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/28/2008 9:56:50 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: monamie

I read labels on everything I buy because the nasty stuff is lurking in the most unlikely places!!!!


You got that right. I'm taking care of a family member who has been put on a very restricted diet primarily for low sodium and things that shouldn't have sodium in it has tons like fresh meat. Those "healthy" chicken breasts have 180 mg per serving, lean pork has 220 mg per serving. I looked at some ground beef and it had 70 mg a serving. [:@] Thank goodness for organic meats.



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/28/2008 10:05:09 AM)

I rarely eat packaged foods; and when I do, I read every ingredient on the label. I often put the product back on the shelf after reading even the first few ingredients.

If a package has a long list of ingredients, I usually put the package back without even reading the ingredients.




Grapples . . . I've never read the ingredient label . . . but something just has never sit right me about them; I guess it was instinctual with me. I've never bought any of them - nor will I now.



stellaluna -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/28/2008 2:29:10 PM)

I almost always read the labels. If the list is "scary" that doesn't necessarily mean I won't eat the food, but it means I'll likely try to balance it out with something better for me. Generally, though, we eat organic. You pretty much just need to look at salt and sugar on those labels.



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/28/2008 2:31:47 PM)

One of the frustrating things for me is that a lot of the "health-food" brands of packaged foods contain soy in some form or another.

I don't do soy; so that eliminates a vast majority of even "healthy" packaged foods.



rcorson -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (3/28/2008 3:06:11 PM)

I look for key words in labels. The big key words I look for are: hydrogenated oil and high frutose corn syrup. I know corn syrup is in EVERYTHING so I focus on eliminating hydrogenated oils. I was pleaseantly suprised to see that a lot of my walmart products that we consume don't have that stuff in them.



HisCovenant -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (4/2/2008 6:01:09 PM)

I read most labels, and avoid most "aisle foods," so lots of processed and added-to foods don't make it to my cart... however, there are times that I skip the whole label thing and just buy something "processed" that looks good. The last time I did it it was with some chocolate organic yogurt that was full of sugar. Sure it was organic and had a lesser processed sugar than it could have had, but what a mistake!! It just goes to show that you have to be careful in the health food store just as you are in a conventional grocery store.

What has surprised me about nutrition is that you even have to read the labels of "unprocessed foods" to get the best choices. Is the beef grass fed or grain fed? Were the chickens given antibiotics? Is the produce seedless? Is it a hybrid? I grew up with a diabetic dad, so label reading on processed foods was a way of life in our household... but I never knew "unprocessed foods" had so many categories and labels as well.



doinkdom -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (4/4/2008 1:42:42 PM)

if the ingredients end in

something-crose
something-odium

bah-bye

of course, that means most everything you touch in a package on a shelf.[&o]

I usually just shop the perimeter of the store, unless my dry goods pantry is low.



Cloak -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (4/4/2008 6:14:59 PM)

I started to check out labels in the last few years. Before I was quite tolerant till I realized that I put on some extra pounds. So, thru God's help, I became more strict to the degree that even prepared cake mix I used to love purchasing with all its flavours and look forward to when it's on special in the flyer to fly to the aisle and stock up on 2 or more, I don't purchase anymore. The only exception to this rule is muffin mix made of whole wheat.

Now all my baking is from scratch. My pasta is whole wheat even if the taste is different or less tasty than white; I remember that my health and body will thank me for it. Even the taste I got used to it.

My Chinese food is veggie so no need for soy sauce, as my Chinese friend told me. At the end in order to give some nutrition, I drizzle peanuts on the top of that lovely spicy sauce to give it some protein value and the taste of peanuts is MUCH better than chicken or pork or beef.

I always stock up on peanuts in my pantry esp. in winter so that they are handy and at my fingertips.



doinkdom -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (4/4/2008 6:37:12 PM)

Ya know, we really are fairly cautious about what we eat...but when it comes to making potluck dishes or desserts for guests, I use the convenience of pre-packaged everything.[&o]



HisCovenant -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (4/4/2008 6:57:48 PM)

I have felt convicted over that. I often buy junk I would never eat because I know everyone else will eat it up. During the summer I took the most delicious fennel bulb salad to a luncheon and it was hardly touched.



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (4/4/2008 7:23:45 PM)

Zippy, that sounds interesting! Would it be possible to get the recipe from you, please?

fun name, btw - [:D]



I'm very picky when I go to potlucks. I don't eat a lot of what is brought because I simply do not know what ingredients are being used.



danas_mom -> RE: So how closely do you read food ingredients labels? (4/4/2008 8:30:47 PM)

We avoid PHO and HFCS as much as possible, so I do read labels on any mixes or premade foods I pick up (most of which go right back on the shelf). I have a specific list of brands of premade foods that I will buy, and I still have to check every so often to make sure they haven't changed their ingredients.

I no longer buy anything made by Pillsbury (except on very rare occasion) because everything I've checked has at least 1.5 g or higher of trans fats per serving.

quote:

I have to say that I love the list of ingredients in Fritos ... corn, corn oil and salt. Sure, it's not the healthiest thing out there ... but at least they aren't filled with all sorts of weird additives and chemicals, ya know?


Yep, Fritos (for frito chili pie!) and Lay's potato chips (potatoes, sunflower oil, and salt) are the only kinds of chips we keep on hand anymore. I still let the kids have an occasional small baggie of cheetos or doritos, but not very often.



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