It’s time for another “Misleading Product Roundup” recapping the food items I’ve shared with you on Facebook. I can’t stress enough how important it is to read the ingredients before buying any packaged food. It can feel tedious at first, but as you read through these examples below I think you’ll agree it’s a necessary evil! For more posts like this, be sure to check out Misleading Product Roundup I, II, and III.
Teriyaki Marinade
I used to love this stuff, but then I read the back to see what they really put in it. High fructose corn syrup is the 2nd ingredient on the list! Not to mention the other questionable additives I do not cook with at home (sodium benzoate anyone?).
Real Food Alternative: How about mixing a few things together at home to make your own teriyaki marinade instead?
Try ½ cup soy sauce (low sodium recommended), ½ cup water, 3 tbsp honey, and 1 tbsp peeled & minced fresh ginger. You could also add some optional canned pineapple juice if you really want to emulate the pictured bottle.
Lindt Chocolate
The Lindt Chocolate ads drive me crazy. They say their chocolate is “pure” and “premium” and “expertly crafted with the finest ingredients.” Yet, when you turn it over to look at the ingredients you’ll find that almost all of their products are artificially flavored …not even the real deal! This is clearly misleading, and a reminder not to trust what these companies tell us and to instead read the ingredients to find out what’s really inside!
Real Food Alternative: I personally buy Green & Black’s 85% dark chocolate bars for a treat. The ingredients are: Organic Chocolate, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Cocoa, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, Organic Vanilla Extract. I also like Alter Eco brand products.
Rold Gold Pretzels
I know pretzels are often touted as a healthy snack, but let’s not forget the national brands are mainly made from refined white flour (labeled as “wheat flour” without the word “whole”) and a few other additives. The issue with white flour is it’s just empty calories that have been stripped of all the important nutrients (and why it’s required to be enriched).
Real Food Alternative: They’re not easy to find, but there are a couple whole-wheat pretzel alternatives out there including one by Unique brand.
Life Cereal
Does anyone else think it’s strange that this brownish looking Life Cereal has artificial yellow dye in it? This is the same dye that requires a warning label when used in Europe (that states “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children”). Between this and the fake strawberries (that are really just artificially flavored/colored dried apple pieces) in their oatmeal packets, I am really not trusting Quaker anymore.
Real Food Alternative: When it comes to boxed cereal look for one that is 100% whole grain with nothing else (or at least not much else) added. Some examples are Shredded Wheat type cereals and puffed whole-grain cereals (like brown rice).
Dasani Drops
How can Dasani get away with calling this “Pink Lemonade” when it doesn’t even contain any lemons? Not to mention it says “Naturally Flavored with Other Natural Flavors” on the front when it contains multiple artificial sweeteners AND artificial colors – what the heck is natural about that? This to me looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen. In the meantime *please* don’t put this chemical concoction in your water!
Real Food Alternative: Either drink plain water (which can be an acquired taste for some) or use real lemons to add some flavor.
Milk Splash
I must admit I was taken aback when I saw this little guy in the grocery store and turned it over to look at the ingredients. The first ingredient (and what it contains the most of) is propylene glycol?? And on top of that it’s full of artificial flavors and sweeteners. If this isn’t a “food like substance” I don’t know what is – PLEASE do not feed this stuff to your kids!
Real Food Alternative: It’s super easy and takes only 2 ingredients to make a more wholesome chocolate milk from scratch: Just mix 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened dark cocoa powder with 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup and about a 1/2 cup cold milk. It takes a few minutes of stirring to get the chocolate sauce to come together.
V8 Splash
It makes me sad that some well-intended individuals will buy this V8 Splash in the hopes of adding veggies/fruit to their diet when it means they’ll also be getting a nice dose of high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners (sucralose), and – that mysterious additive – natural flavoring. I don’t trust brands who use ingredients like this.
Real Food Alternative: Unfortunately, even if it were a higher quality juice, it would still mainly be the naturally occurring sugars from the fruits and veggies in concentrated form without any of the other stuff (like fiber) that nature intended. So for that reason, juice is just an occasional thing for us personally. I say go for a glass of water or a smoothie (that retains the whole fruit/veggie) instead!
Ken’s Balsamic Dressing
I found this one interesting. This dressing is called “Balsamic with Honey” yet it contains more high fructose corn syrup and (refined) sugar than it does honey. Just another reminder to ignore the claims on the front of the package and read the ingredients instead. Oh and please don’t trust companies who do stuff like this!
Real Food Alternative: Many of you know by now, this is my most favorite kitchen tool for making homemade salad dressings a breeze.
WeightWatchers Smart Ones
I have no idea what is “smart” about this. Factory farmed chicken covered in fake grill marks mixed with white flour pasta and a bunch of additives I would never cook with at home (including corn syrup solids, shortening powder & carrageenan)? No, thank you.
Real Food Alternative: I’d much rather make my own organic creamy sauce from scratch with 3 ingredients (including real cream) instead. And thankfully it’s surprisingly easy to do!
SunMaid Yogurt Raisins
Has anyone else noticed how these yogurt covered raisins (that used to be a snack fav of ours in the old days) contain partially hydrogenated oil – a.k.a. trans fat? That’s the same artery clogging trans fat that the government recently admitted was no longer “generally recognized as safe” and therefore will be banned going forward. There’s also some other questionable stuff on this ingredient list so I’d say skip this bag of coated snacks.
Real Food Alternative: How about some plain (and preferably organic) raisins instead?
Progresso Bread Crumbs
Italian bread crumbs should simply be good quality whole wheat bread plus some seasonings. Yet, Progresso makes theirs with dozens of unnecessary refined additives including high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oil (i.e. the same trans fat I mentioned above), several dough conditioners that I can’t even pronounce, preservatives, and the wonderfully evasive “natural flavors” ingredient.
Real Food Alternative: Why put this mess in your body when it’s so easy to make your own? I’ve got a super simple recipe in my cookbook, and all you have to do is add Italian seasoning when you’re done!
Mt. Olive Relish
Isn’t it amazing how a product as simple as relish can be tainted with artificial food dye (the same dye that requires a warning label when used in European countries)?
Real Food Alternative: For a relish without unwanted ingredients look for a brand called Bubbies.
So what did you think of this list? Learn anything new?
My Go-To Whole Foods Shopping List (Part 1)
Brittany
January 12, 2015 at 1:59 pmI hate how Craisins puts a blurb on their bags saying they have x amount of less sugar than raisins leading some to think they are a healthier alternative. If you get a good raisin it is nothing but a sun dried grape, nothing added. Craisins have added sugar. I would rather have the natural stuff with nothing added. Can’t wait for label changes to show how much added sugar is in things!
Lisa
January 12, 2015 at 2:51 pmThat is a great point! I agree it’s tough to find dried cranberries without added, refined sugar.
Lisa
January 12, 2015 at 5:19 pmThey have dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice available at my co-op.
Cynthia
January 12, 2015 at 3:24 pmI was grocery shopping last night and we were in the mood for Mexican hot chocolate. We have been making hot chocolate at home with unsweetened cocoa powder and adding a little bit of organic sugar for sweetness (I know I should be using honey instead). I have not been successful with making a Mexican hot chocolate version, so I went to buy the Abuelita’s chocolate. I was surprised to read the list of ingredients! No cinnamon nor nutmeg, the flavor comes from artificial flavor. Not to mention the other stuff that’s in there. I even took a picture to send to my boyfriend and told him sorry I just can’t buy it and he totally agreed. So, sad and disappointing. I grew up drinking this and will not and could not purchase another package again.
Amy
January 12, 2015 at 8:06 pmDon’t apologize that you are not using honey over organic sugar – you are still leaps and bounds beyond what most people are drinking! Good for you!
Amy
January 12, 2015 at 8:09 pmPlease don’t feel that you need to apologize for not using honey over organic sugar. You are still leaps and bounds beyond what most people drink! Good for you!
Jen
January 12, 2015 at 4:15 pmPlease note: If you were able to find unsweetened dried cranberries, you would not want to eat them. Sour! :) Thanks for the great info! I was just lamenting over the so called “healthy” choices in the cereal aisle today.
Nicole
January 12, 2015 at 4:16 pmCynthia – Look for Taza Brand cholate tablets. They have regular, cinnamon and Guajillo Chili. Organic inredients and similar to Abuelita tablets.
Beth
January 12, 2015 at 4:51 pmOh no I have those breadcrumbs in my fridge right now! I am so careful about what we eat around here and they totally slipped right past me. Well, there you go, my mom always put them in her meatloaf so i did. Into the garbage. By the way I have your cinnamon raisin bread on my counter and it is delicious. Four year old loved it. Thanks
Beth
August 18, 2015 at 1:53 pmI’ve gotten into a great pattern of making my own. I take the leftover heel of bread from our weekly bread-machine loaf, cube it, toss it into the freezer in a big gallon bag. Then, when I need crumbs, I just blitz them in the food processor and add herbs/oil, etc as needed.
threesidedorchid
January 12, 2015 at 5:16 pmCynthia, I make what I call mexican hot chocolate at home just using cocoa powder, vanilla extract, almond extract (very, very little), chili powder, cinnamon and salt. (and milk of course). I haven’t had a lot of pre-made mexican hot chocolates, so it’s hard for me to care, but it seems good to me.
_
There’s not a lot of things I can buy these days at the grocery – not boxed/premade, but I don’t even buy things with ‘natural ingredients’ so I’m pretty limited. I wouldn’t even have picked up any of the things on this list unless I expected to make an ‘exception’.
I once got into an argument with a whole foods employee about whether all of their foods were really good for you or not (ingredients-wide, not fat/sugar wise), which is pretty sad considering i’m not *that* picky.
Katy
January 12, 2015 at 6:42 pmThank you for naming a brand of relish without artificial colors! I was so sad that I couldn’t find a single jar without HFCS being at or near the top of the ingredient list! Food coloring snuck right by me. I will be trying Bubbies soon.
Becky S
January 12, 2015 at 7:09 pmI think you have to watch for changes in labels too. I used to drink the V8 splash when I was pregnant many moons ago because I couldn’t choke down any vegetables. I’m sure it was 100% juice…that’s why I chose it.
The Prestigious School
January 12, 2015 at 8:58 pmLindt Chocolate really surprised me. I’m embarrassed I didn’t catch that myself. Thank you!
Kathy C
January 12, 2015 at 9:21 pmI have a devil of a time finding pickles without artificial coloring around here, so not surprised at all about the relish. I can find one brand in a grocery about 20 mins away from me. Sigh. (My town has no natural food stores, and the three groceries that are here, while they are slowing expanding their organic options, still don’t carry pickles or mayo.) So 20 mins I drive…
Kristin
January 13, 2015 at 2:34 pmI would highly suggest make your own refrigerator pickles. I originally started making them in summer months, when cukes and dill are in season, but now make them year round to avoid artificial colors in most commercial pickles. Also, dye free pickles are sold at our farmer’s market.
Brine:
3 cups water
6 T vinegar
2 T kosher salt
Layer cucumbers ((slices, spears or a combination) alternately with fresh dill. Cover with brine. Place 1-2 chopped garlic cloves on top. Refrigerate for 2 days before eating.
I usually slice and chop and let my 7 year old to the rest.
Jo-Anne
January 12, 2015 at 9:44 pmWent to the grocery store to buy water today for our travels and I literally walked up and down the aisle looking for a snack for about 10 minutes but decided the water was good enough, now after reading this I am so happy with myself that I didn’t grab those convenient snacks but instead went home and baked ur lemon/raspberry muffins and zucchini bread which I must add the kids are loving.
Denise
January 12, 2015 at 11:33 pmI was reading about coconut sugar the other day. I found it today and was wondering how you feel about it. The box says organic, pure and unrefined, non gmo. The only ingredient is organic coconut sugar. What do you think?
Jessy
January 13, 2015 at 9:22 amThanks for this post Lisa!
Just FYI, those Kolder salad dressing bottles are still $5.99 on Amazon… I ordered one last week but might get another! :)
Used it last night for the first time and love it.
Carol
January 13, 2015 at 2:00 pmI love that you write these posts! Some people need this kind of a breakdown to really get it and your posts are always so insightful. They provide information and make people think!!!
Karen
January 13, 2015 at 2:22 pmScary!!!!! Especially the milk additive.
Viki
January 13, 2015 at 2:33 pmGuilty of purchasing two of the items, teriyaki sauce & bread crumbs – I try to steer clear of processed foods. Great article!
Val
January 13, 2015 at 3:02 pmI was so disappointed to find Glucose Fructose +30 other ingredients in my bread crumbs Aurora Italian Style – my mom always used them Ive only every bought/used them I think all my sibling buy/use them too. Great article! Thanks ;)
Trudy
January 13, 2015 at 3:07 pmI must say all I can talk about is your book, this week is the 2nd week of the chalange you gave us but we started our own chalange no store brought bread, we have made bread the last two weeks – we are still 1/2 white unbleached flour and 1/2 whole its hard to get Hubby onboard with no white but -yummy and so nice to know some of the bread is less than 5 ingrediants. For lunch today I made a Gabata sandwich , and tonight we are having your Potato soup and whole chicken in the crock pot – my kids love the chicken , husband loves the soup and I love making my own stock – the list above is proof that the last two weeks of eating only home made is worth it!!! LOVE your BOOK – Trudy (Wisconsin)
Mishele
January 13, 2015 at 3:51 pmHave you used whole white wheat flour? the King Arthur brand (orange label) has always worked well for me. It tastes so good and the bread comes out pretty light in color, definitely enough so that if you switch it he might not even notice.
Trudy
January 14, 2015 at 9:41 amMishele,
Thank you I will try that for sure grocery shopping today – he is onboard with other changes but the white bread and pasta :) we will get there.
Jessica
January 13, 2015 at 3:07 pmObviously what they sell as lindt chocolate over there in the US is not the real thing. Look on the back to see where its manufactured….if its in the US it isn’t real anyway. It should say kilchberg schweiz or switzerland. Alternatively it could say Germany, which has a factory as well. Both countries have strict food regulations and they aren’t allowed to use crazy additives or wacky artificial favoring. Try a German store or bakery to find the real thing. Milka is also very good.
Jessi from Berlin
Nikki K
January 13, 2015 at 4:51 pmCan you post some of the salad dressings you like to make? I’m ordering the bottle! Also curious if there are smaller batches, so we can try new recipes without “committing” to the whole container so we aren’t wasteful :)
Suparna
January 13, 2015 at 6:47 pmMost of these products should have a warning label that reads “May contain real food”!!
Tiffany
January 13, 2015 at 8:03 pmThe problem with making your own teriyaki and using soy sauce is that there is SODIUM BENZOATE in soy sauce :(
Melissa
January 14, 2015 at 12:30 pmThere are many brands of soy sauce that do not contain sodium benzoate. Try San-J.
Holly
January 13, 2015 at 8:13 pmA good alternative for frozen convenience meals are the Amy’s Organic products. Yes, they are processed food. But pretty much everyone needs a quick convenient meal now and then, and their ingredients FAR surpass the quality of any other frozen convenience meal I’ve seen in grocery stores.
Rinah
January 13, 2015 at 8:23 pmLisa, this is wonderful information, although I have been processed free for 2 years now and 82lbs loss. I have your book and I love it. The recipes are incredible, especially the raisin bread loaf, which i make all the time. Thank you again for showing everyone healthy eating is not hard to do.
Jessie
January 13, 2015 at 9:42 pmLindt alternative: Aldi sells house-brand milk and dark chocolate bars for 99 cents that are made in Germany, contain real vanilla only, and have no natural or artificial added flavorings. In fact, they almost meet the five-ingredient test.
Jeannine
January 13, 2015 at 9:58 pmI haven’t had my V8 juice this week. I have only had water with lemon or hot plain tea for the 2nd week’s challenge. Lisa or anyone have a recipe for making your own version of V-8 low sodium spicy hot juice (or smoothy) in a blender or food processor.
tricia
January 14, 2015 at 8:44 amTry pinterest or google. Here is just one of the results when I typed it in pinterest.
http://bigsislilsis.com/2013/04/20/homemade-spicy-v8-juice-recipe/
Katie
January 14, 2015 at 7:30 amThank you for this informative post. I am appalled at the chemicals that are being used in our food. As I read about the ingredients used in children’s foods, especially the milk splash item you featured, it makes me so sad and angry. I look at my kids, both under 4, and wonder why on earth is no one banning these harmful chemicals? Most people are so unaware and I am grateful to have found Lisa’s cookbook and this great blog. Let’s keep getting the word out and work together to protect our food system.
Adri
January 14, 2015 at 9:16 amOur government agencies which are supposed to protect our food supply have been infiltrated by people with an agenda. The best rule of thumb is to just don’t buy processed foods at all. All juices and drinks that are sold are just not healthy because they are heated before being packaged, therefore they do not have any beneficial enzymes which the body needs to stay healthy. Make your own juices for the kids using fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables – always avoid sodas, especially those that come in aluminum cans, there is suspicion that some toxins from the aluminum get into the soda, beer, etc. and this can negatively effect the brain. As for milk, milk products, ice cream, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc — read this letter a doctor wrote to his patients — http://www.notmilk.com/kradjian.html
Karly
January 14, 2015 at 9:27 amThank you for posting things like this. I shop mostly at whole foods and signed up for full circle deliveries each week. So we eat mostly organic and whole food, but every once in a while, I’m in a hurry (whole foods is 45 mins away, walmart is 10 mins away) and grab an item like this and think it’ll be fine. But these posts keep that in check. I love to see your kids’ lunches on pinterest too. I’ll be purchasing your book soon too. Thanks again!
Karly
January 14, 2015 at 9:30 amOh one more comment- investing in a juicer is so worth it. Make your own “v-8” with fresh ingredients. I have trouble getting my kids to eat vegetables, but when I juice them, they love it.
Ronica
January 14, 2015 at 10:35 amThank you for these posts. I like to consider myself someone who doesn’t buy many processed foods anymore, but this makes me realize how far I still have to go. I’ve been toying with the idea of making my own dressings and marinades lately, and this just pushed me over the edge! So again, THANK YOU!
98%naturalmommy
January 14, 2015 at 11:01 amThe Milk Splash is the most shocking. I can’t believe that there are actually products in our grocery stores that are mostly additives and artificial ingredients with absolutely no ingredients that are actually of nutritious value. What’s worse is that so many of them are marketed towards kids.
betsy
January 14, 2015 at 3:44 pmeating real, clean food is the best thing you can do for your and your entire family’s health. i’ve posted paleo and gluten free recipes at http://www.urbanpl8.com
Candi
January 14, 2015 at 4:11 pmARRRGG! Thanks for the info. Great post. Scary stuff out there posing as food these days.
Tiffany
January 14, 2015 at 10:25 pmHave you ever noticed that Juicy Juice, while 100% juice, despite the flavor, is mostly just apple juice with a little bit of other juice, or flavorings? Some of V8’s stuff is only juice, but you’ve got to really watch out!
Angela @ Food Angel
January 14, 2015 at 10:46 pmYesss!! Thank you for including Life Cereal! I’ve been trying to get my husband to stop eating this junk for so long! He claims it as his only vice as a snack in the evening and he has tried healthier alternatives, but it’s still his favorite :-( I remember it being one of the only cereals my mom allowed us to eat growing up, because it contained a lower sugar content- I wonder if it had yellow dye in it back then?
Critical Reader
January 15, 2015 at 6:20 amIf Lindt Chocolate makes it to the Hall of Fame for their ads I would like to nominate Applegate’s Black Forest Ham for the next misleading product round-up. They say: “Marinated in sugar and spices, this deli meat is prepared in the tradition of true German Black Forest hams – slow cooked with a hearty smoking.” This is a lie. Applegate’s Black Forest Ham has nothing in common with the original. The original is a dry-cured (not cooked!!) smoked ham which – if sold in Europe – needs to be produced in the Black Forest Region of Germany. It is also not marinated in sugar. Applegates just borrows its name to make their own stuff sound fancy and does not even try to mimic the original. In addition, Applegates uses the preservative celery powder, which is banned in Europe. If something is banned in Europe and even a warning label is not enough to make it legal it must be seriously dangerous, right?
Trying2BUnprocessed
January 15, 2015 at 7:24 amNice to see what not to be consuming, but what can be consumed in place of these?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
January 15, 2015 at 4:59 pmHi there. If you take another look you will see that Lisa provides real food alternatives for each product. :)
Jenna
January 15, 2015 at 2:02 pmI really appreciate you bringing these items to the attention of those who are being mislead by sneaky marketing schemes. I’m hopeful that with the whole food movement that is occurring people will begin to realize that it is important to know you’re eating well because you are certain of the ingredients that it contains, and not because the food packaging claims it is “healthy”.
Jaqueline
January 15, 2015 at 5:01 pmAwesome! !!! Thanks a lot. I personally used Progreso bread crumbs several times for 10 years (before open my eyes) now I have your book and I’m planning to make them my self since I already baked the bread. So, just turn on the oven!!!! :)
Brandy
January 15, 2015 at 9:26 pmI am trying to get a grasp on all the ingredients to watch for but to be honest after reading so many labels they all sound the same:( what are your thoughts on Luna bars?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
January 16, 2015 at 10:33 amHi Brandy. Lisa likes Lara Bars. Compare the ingredient list in Lara vs Luna and you will see why: http://www.lunabar.com/nutrition/ingredient-glossary and http://www.larabar.com/products/cashew-cookie. ;)
ipiit
January 16, 2015 at 6:50 amWe have a right to know what is in all of your food and with our ipiit app you can set preferences for example non-GMO and it will tell you when you scan the food labels if the food is good for you and if not provide you with alternatives! Our app is available to download for free on iPhone and Android
http://www.ipiit.com
Brandy
January 16, 2015 at 10:41 amThanks Amy, we will be giving them a try!
Jennifer
January 16, 2015 at 1:35 pmI cannot find a pickle relish in my town without HFCS, food coloring or both. I have looked in every grocery store here! I now just dice good pickles for relish.. dill or bread and butter depending on whether I want sour or sweet.
Alison
January 17, 2015 at 10:24 amEw. These posts just make me sad for the people who haven’t realized how easy it is to make homemade salad dressings, chocolate milk and snacks and feel that they have to resort to pre-packaged snacks and frozen dinners. Thanks for sharing!
Roger Komula
January 18, 2015 at 1:15 pmI recently “retired” from North America’s largest food company where I made an iconic brand in a blue box that has a name which is only half accurate at best. You do not want to know what half really isn’t what the box says.
Brad
January 19, 2015 at 7:58 pmI’m not sure who this article is intended for.
Anyone who has chosen to avoid artificial foods is going to avoid even looking at the foods listed here. And the people who don’t care, well.. don’t care.
This feels like the writer was just trying to show off how good they are at spotting artificial flavours in the wild.
I mean. The Lindt chocolates don’t even say “pure” anywhere on the packaging. Yet the writer felt the need to scold them for being “deceptive”.
Erica
April 28, 2017 at 10:22 pmThis article was written for someone like me. I found it to be very helpful, thank you very much
Cris
January 21, 2015 at 7:02 amIt’s intended for people like me, who are just learning.
Janice
January 22, 2015 at 1:30 amJust remember for the teriyaki sauce, the soy sauce is made with soybeans. If the soybeans aren’t organic then they are more than likely GMO. Most soybeans in this country are GMO which is a whole different issue. Just be aware.
Katie M.
January 23, 2015 at 10:28 amI whole heartedly agree that all of this processed food is sub par to what we can make in our own kitchen. Back to basics! I recently wrote a two part series on how to make two months worth of breakfasts for a family of five, in eight hours (over two days). Here is a direct link to day one: http://inaweofeden.blogspot.com/2015/01/breakfast-fest-2015-day-1.html
Marci
February 2, 2015 at 12:07 ami just read the back of the bread crumbs can the other day for the first time, too. What possible reason could they have for adding high fructose corn syrup!? I was shocked. So ridiculous!
Sophie
February 2, 2015 at 12:29 amI like these articles, but I’d also like to see you be a little more careful about comparing apples to apples. i.e. you compare Lindt sea salt to Green and Black’s 85% cocoa chocolate bar. If you compare Lindt 85% cocoa bar to Green & Black’s 85% cocoa bar, the ingredients are the same. Chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla. So Green & Blacks may provide some advantage for being organic, but the ingredients are not different. Green & Blacks makes a milk chocolate sea salt bar, not a dark chocolate one, and it does contain soy lecithin, though not artificial flavorings. I love your site, your recipes and the work you do to raise awareness, but it does undermine your cause a la Food-babe to make these kinds of disingenuous comparisons.
magee
February 2, 2015 at 6:45 amI don’t think its the Cocoa she referring to..they are claiming to be pure yet they have artificial flavoring. ..who knows what that is. Since its not even listed…
Sue M
February 2, 2015 at 9:02 amIn response to Sophie’s remark about the two chocolate bars: another item which is important to note is the ORDER IN WHICH INGREDIENTS ARE LISTED on the label. . . sugar is the PRIMARY ingredient in the Lindt bar and is the fourth ingredient in Green and Black’s. I see a huge difference between these two bars, and while I know the sugary bar tastes best to most people, the better bar to grab if you are trying to retrain your sugar addicted tongue is the Green and Black’s.
Sophie
February 3, 2015 at 1:04 amSue M- the comparison YOU make is a much more valid one than the one that is made in the article. There are certainly differences between the two bars which make Green & Black’s probably a better choice. In my opinion, it is more credible and makes a better case to compare two 85% cocoa bars than two different styles of chocolate bars. Sugar is the 1st ingredient in Green & Black’s sea salt bar as well (though it is a milk chocolate bar). 100 days of Real Food generally does an excellent job with this kind of thing, but there are a lot of similar sites that don’t and I would hate to see them start using unfair comparisons, just to increase the power of their message. Especially as it is ultimately a practice that undermines their credibility.
Skeptic
February 2, 2015 at 11:39 amOoh! Scary chemical names! Maybe try researching what they are and what they do before you run screaming into the night.
Roma
April 23, 2015 at 11:23 pmWe have. That’s why we’re screaming.
Kristen
April 24, 2015 at 9:00 pmHow about YOU research them. Then you wouldn’t have made such a ridiculous comment.
Nikki
February 2, 2015 at 1:23 pmDo you have a list of boxed cereals that fit the less than five requirement?
Cereal is a hit with my kids and one of the most challenging areas for us to switch to real foods. If you could point me to some ideas I will have three very thankful kids! Thank you for your help!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
February 2, 2015 at 7:38 pmHi Nikki. Lisa sometimes buys the organic 100% puffed or shredded wheat from Earth Fare. Otherwise, here go-to is her own homemade granola: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/04/recipe-granola-bars-cereal/. But honestly, it is very hard to find cereals that do not have added sugars.
Kacy
August 18, 2015 at 1:16 pmTry muesli. I like Bob’s Red Mill Old Country Style Muesli. It’s most affordable in bulk from Amazon but I’ve found it at a good price at Costco before too. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve found an affordable, “real,” organic muesli yet. Anyway, it’s delicious cold with milk, mixed with bananas and peanut butter or with organic unsweetened applesauce, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. It’s also great mixed with yogurt and berries or heated like traditional oatmeal. My two-year old eats almost nothing but this for breakfast.
terri henderson
February 2, 2015 at 6:40 pmwhat is even worse, everything has soy in it now.
Roma
April 23, 2015 at 11:22 pmBubbies sauerkraut is also good. So good I haven’t made my own in a while! As for the previous comments on product comparison, the message is simply…. Read labels and make your own decisions. I personally would never buy milk chocolate, but I know some people love it. 75 and above organic dark chocolate is the only label I would bother to read. To each, his own, but be alert and informed.
Amber
April 23, 2015 at 11:50 pmThe food dye in absolutely unnecessary items like pickles and Life boggle me. I mean I get that they want green frosting on St. Patrick’s day cupcakes or something, but pickles are green anyway, they don’t need to be brighter. And I do not understand why Quaker puts food dye in Life. It’s a natural brown color! It’s not like Froot Loops where they’re trying to make them look like colorful fruit bunches. There are a ton of chocolate brands that sell 70%+ cocoa chocolate with real (though not organic) ingredients no need for the Lindt.
Nothing else on the list would be on my buy list anyway as it’s obviously over processed. I wish companies would get it together and start selling food with less fabrication.
Jessica
April 24, 2015 at 9:47 amAll of the leading pickle brands use dye. I currently buy Boars Head, Trader Joe’s or my fav, McClure’s.
Brandy fenenga
April 24, 2015 at 1:43 pmOur store just started to carry the Bubie’s brand. I don’t think they are a fair comparison since those are naturally fermented instead of the vinegar brine in other pickels. Different process, different chemical reactions, different taste. They were okay, not enough to justify the 3x price difference. Sorry, I live in rural America where the nearest Trader Joe’s is 4 hours away. I usually make my own anyway.Vinegar is vinegar no matter where it comes from. Acetic acid is acetic acid.
What’s the problem with carrageen? It’s a type of seaweed.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
April 27, 2015 at 4:53 pmHi Brandy. Here is an article on carrageenan: http://www.prevention.com/food/healthy-eating-tips/carrageenan-natural-ingredient-you-should-ban-your-diet.
Lisa M
May 30, 2015 at 8:57 pmWHAT ABOUT BABY FORMULA?? !!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
June 15, 2015 at 11:30 amHi. This might help: http://foodbabe.com/2013/05/28/how-to-find-the-safest-organic-infant-formula/.
Laura
August 18, 2015 at 2:18 pmI had to google what propylene glycol was: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=1120&tid=240
Bette robbins
August 18, 2015 at 2:45 pmI know this doesn’t pertain to food, but I just bought a tube of Tom’s toothpaste yesterday that clearly stated on the front that there were NO artificial sweeteners in it. I should have read the ingredient list before purchasing, but was in a hurry. After arriving home I looked on the back and under “other ingredients” was sorbitol and xylitol. How can companies get away with this? Clearly this is false advertising. When I returned the toothpaste to the store the lady said this was really a shame, but there wasn’t anything they could do about it
Mommasaysso
August 18, 2015 at 5:37 pmSorbitol and Xylitol are sugar alcohols metabolized from corn and other fruits and vegetables. They are not artificial sweeteners.
Callie V
August 19, 2015 at 3:14 pmMy husband and I had a hard time finding chocolate without soy lecticin. Trader joes organic bars are free of soy as well as Enjoy Life Chocolate chips. There are some other brands that don’t have soy that I get from regular stores like Sprouts, but we don’t buy them consistently since they’re more expensive.
Marjorie
May 12, 2016 at 5:02 pmWhenever I see “natural ingredients” I almost want to run. I did a project in college….natural means it comes from nature. So the example I use most frequently is natural raspberry flavoring (not always) is derived from a gland in the anus of beavers. It’s natural because it came from the beaver….however there is nothing NATURAL about flavoring you food with the excrement of another. Food for thought.
Nancy
May 14, 2016 at 11:40 amI have been buying V-8 Fusion. I could not find any mention of corn syrup or artificial sweeteners in it. Can someone please share with me – what I am missing in this product. I thought the Fusion brand of V-8 was the healthier choice in V-8 product line. Thanks! :)
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
May 18, 2016 at 4:56 pmHi there. This post is is 16 months old. Fortunately food companies are starting to make important changes. Here is the current labeling info for v8 fusion: https://www.campbells.com/v8/faqs/.
Kristin
September 8, 2016 at 11:30 amOhhhh the yogurt raisins make me sad! My daughter LOVES those. That and the breadcrumbs – ew. I was just about to say I knew about the rest but I did NOT know about the yellow dye in Life. My kids (and my husband!) will be sad when “daddy squares” no longer make an appearance in our house. Boo. I thought I was doing a pretty decent job with our food choices, but I apparently have a ways to go!
Aubrey Heki
September 8, 2016 at 4:35 pmThis blog taught me to always alway read food labels. Once in awhile I make a slight concession on something…but at least it’s an informed decsion now and not one based on blindly following advertising.