For some time now, the way we eat as an American society has been receiving extremely harsh scrutiny. We have been criticized for consuming too much fast/junk foods that are deficient in important nutrients and we have given the preparation of home-cooked meals a seat on the back burner. Consequently, there has been a rise in food related sicknesses and deaths. Food companies have taken notice of the perils of our eating habits and although they may not discontinue certain foods or products, they have made changes to how foods are being grown and processed by substituting/limiting certain ingredients that are used in their products. As a result, foods that are “low fat” and “fat free” seem to be more readily available. But, what do these labels mean and can you fully believe them? Allow me to help you try and answer some of your questions.
All-Natural: This is probably the most misleading label of them all. Poultry, for example, usually carries this label the most, but the label has nothing to do with how the animal was raised. Most foods with these labels simply refer to the food being made without any artificial coloring, flavoring or chemical preservatives, which really doesn’t mean a whole lot. At the bottom of the label, you will find the words minimally processed, which is insignificant. Very few products/foods containing this label, such as eggs made by the company 4 Grain, are truly all-natural. They are made without hormones and/or antibiotics.
Fat-Free/Non Fat: Products/foods with this label usually do contain fat, however, the food must have no more than 1/2 gram of fat per serving in order to carry this label. Other labels, such as “non” or “free” must have no more than 1/2 gram of sugar, 2 mg of cholesterol and 5 mg of sodium per serving in order to carry these labels. Any label that states a product containing zero grams/mg of any of the aforementioned macro/micronutrients can not contain any more than the amount per serving listed above.
Lean: Foods that contain less than ten grams of fat per serving.
Extra Lean: Foods that contain less than five grams of fat per serving. Most of us have a problem limiting our portions to the recommended serving size, so I suggest consuming meats that are extra lean.
Made With Organic Ingredients: No less than 70% of the ingredients in the product must be organic.
Organic: In order for animal/plant products to carry this label, the particular product must be grown without any artificial hormones, steroids, antibiotics and pesticides. Food/product will carry the USDA Organic Seal.
Written by Carl Cbjunior32@aol.com
