Continued from June 2014 Newsletter
Food manufacturers have to find the middle ground between food safety and what tastes good. Many times the food additives are used for fillers, or profit. Other times it is for food safety.
There are certain conditions where food borne bacteria will grow. It is up to the food manufactures who are governed by the FDA and the USDA to produce a safe food product. Sometimes a preservative is needed to maintain food safety. Many fresh products like fresh salsas either cook their product first or use a preservative. This is because all produce has bacteria. If it sits around after being processed the bacteria grow. Some preservatives are used to extend shelf life.
MSG is a flavor enhancer. Some say that it is good for people wanting or needing to cut down on salt. It is a natural flavor enhancer and has been used for over 100 years. It is not good for migraine sufferers as it is a major trigger. It dilates the blood vessels. Some health effects are unknown but it isn't going anywhere. The FDA deems it safe and it works to boost flavors. We do not use this. We never will.
Some facts everyone should know:
Hydrogenated Oil - How this is legal I do not know but it is in many of the products you eat every day.
Trans Fat at-a-Glance
This was taken from the FDA:
There are two sources of trans fat, also known as trans fatty acids:
Trans fat formed naturally - this type of trans fat is produced in the gut of some grazing animals. That’s why small quantities of trans fat can be found in animal products like milk, milk products and meat.
Trans fat formed during food processing - this type of trans fat is created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil (a process called hydrogenation) to make it more solid. Partially hydrogenated oils are used by food manufacturers to improve the texture, shelf life and flavor stability of foods. About half of the trans fat Americans consume is formed during food processing and partially hydrogenated oils are the main source this type of trans fat in the U.S.
Where’s the Trans Fat?
Trans fat can be found in many of the same foods as saturated fat. These can include:
Crackers, cookies, cakes, frozen pies and other baked goods
Snack foods (such as microwave popcorn)
Frozen pizza
Fast food
Vegetable shortenings and stick margarines
Coffee creamer
Refrigerated dough products (such as biscuits and cinnamon rolls)
Ready-to-use frostings
White Breads
Ice Cream
Peanut Butter
Tortillas
Margarine
Non Dairy Coffee Creamer
....and more. Read the labels as this stuff is not natural and is not good for you.
Did you know New York banned this oil in the restaurants? Read this: Link
So why did I pick this to write about? It doesn't list salsa or spices. I did this because I care about you and what you eat. So many people are not aware of the facts of this oil and you should be. GMO in produce stays in the headlines. Why isn't this in the headlines?
Want to read more? Click here. I will write about other ingredients to avoid in a future newsletter.
Happy cooking! Please read labels, you are worth it!
Thank you,
Debbie Roberti
