If you haven’t guessed, I’ve been reading labels again. This time it is salad dressing (who knows what other dangers or concerns may be found in other food items at the local grocery store?). Specifically, my family asked me to find some Ranch dressing. Here are the brands and varieties I found in the store (of just Ranch dressing!). I’m thankful that we live in a land of plenty and that we have a lot of choices, but I wonder if they are real choices.
Best Choice Bacon Ranch
Best Choice Creamy Ranch
Best Choice Light Ranch
Best Choice Spicy Ranch
Clearly Organic Ranch (Best Choice)
Hidden Valley Organic Ranch
Hidden Valley Ranch
Hidden Valley Ranch Light
Ken’s Steakhouse Ranch
Kraft Free Ranch (Fat Free)
Kraft Three Cheese Ranch
Kraft Three Cheese Ranch Light
Otts Ranch
Wish Bone Ranch
Wish Bone Light Ranch
After reading the labels, I has hard pressed to find a Ranch dressing that I could gladly take home to my family. What to do??? What to do???
Not to mention the preservatives (of which most food products have plenty), “artificial flavors” (who knows what this entails?), artificial sweeteners (which many products have) and the chemical dyes, there are two other ingredients of concern.
Of the above varieties of Ranch dressing, I found they all contained high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) except for Hidden Valley Organic Ranch, Kraft Three Cheese Ranch, and Otts Ranch.
I also found that they all contained monosodium glutamate (MSG) except for Clearly Organic Ranch (Best Choice), Hidden Valley Organic Ranch, Kraft Three Cheese Ranch, and Otts Ranch.
Only 3 out of 15 passed the test. And sad to say, the Hidden Valley Organic Ranch had an extra twangy taste that didn’t taste like the usual “Ranch” flavor. Still, the health of my family should rule over taste.
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (HFCS)
More and more I find that food products contain added corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup as a main ingredient. I can guess what this is all about. For one thing, sugar can be more expensive to obtain. Also, by sweetening the ingredients it will make the product more flavorful for the consumer. And in the eyes of the food corporations, taste is everything when it comes to selling product. Never mind what is healthy. Never mind what is better to deflect tooth decay. Never mind what is better for the consumer. I have seen many products that have BOTH high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and regular corn syrup.
According to Answers.com, “There is some controversy over the use of HFCS as a food additive. Increasingly, manufacturers are utilizing HFCS in a variety of foods such as breads, cereals, soft drinks, condiments, etc. It has been proven to cause obesity due to its addictive nature.”
This article also says: “High fructose is banned in Canada and it is a clear reason why there is so much obesity in the United States.”
The same article includes this alarming statement: “High fructose corn syrup is in everything. It owns your soul.”
Another researcher made this glaring statement: “The American food industry doesn’t give two ‘toots’ about your health.” And I would have to agree …
It is getting difficult to find a food product at the grocery store or McDonalds that is not loaded with HFCS. One 20-ounce bottle of Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sprite or Dr. Pepper is the equivalent of pouring 17 teaspoons of sugar straight into your body. HFCS is the leading ingredient after carbonated water in these beverages.
High Fructose Corn Syrup is found in fruit drinks like Capri Sun, Sunny Delight, Snapple, Hawaiian Punch, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice and in most energy drinks. It is also found in Arizona Tea, SoBe beverages, and chocolate drinks like Yoohoo.
It is also found in Cool Whip, Minute Maid Orange Juice, Mountain Dairy Egg Nog, Mrs. Smith Pumpkin Pie, Nabisco Wheat Thins, Popcicles, Ritz Crackers, syrup (Aunt Jemima, Fred Myer Original, Golden Griddle, Hershey’s Syrup, Kellogg’s Eggo, Log Cabin, Mrs. Butterworth’s, Nalley Butter Lumber Jack-in all of these HFCS is the top or number 2 ingredient), Breyers yogurt, Yoplait yogurt, cookies, ice cream, Campbell’s soup, Heinz Ketchup, Ragu, Kraft Barbecue Sauce, Smucker’s Preserves, and many breakfast cereals.
Since its introduction, HFCS has begun to replace sugar in various processed foods in the USA. The main reasons for this switch (according to Answers.com) are:
1) HFCS is somewhat cheaper due to the relative abundance of corn, farm subsidies and sugar import tariffs in the United States.
2) HFCS is easier to blend and transport because it is a liquid.
3) HFCS usage leads to products with much longer shelf life.
Not only are the problems of HFCS with fat and obesity a concern, but there is also evidence that it contributes to diabetes, hypertension, and higher triglycerides. It also can wreak havoc with some important enzymes and hormones (such as not allowing the release of the hormone that tells the brain you are full. Hence, you overeat.). See related websites below.
MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG)
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is also in nearly every processed food, ingredients you buy at the grocery store, your child’s vaccines, baby formula, baby food, and in heavy doses at fast food restaurants, etc. Learn how this toxic chemical is contributing to America’s obesity epidemic, cancer, and more.
Watch the videos at the following website:
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/monosodium_glutamate.htm
From what I have been reading about MSG, many times it is included in various products, but is “hidden” from the ingredients, because it is part of a more generic-sounding ingredient. (Boo on big business and the FDA.)
Here are some “hidden” names for MSG or MSG derivatives: autolyzed plant protein, autolyzed yeast, calcium caseinate, gelatin, glutamate, glutamic acid, hydrolyzed plant protein (HPP), hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), monopotassium glutamate, sodium caseinate, textured protein, yeast extract, and yeast food or nutrient.
It is obvious to me that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) appears to be more interested in protecting the profits of big business than in safeguarding the health of consumers.
MSG is an excitotoxin (chemical transmitters) that allows brain cells to communicate, as described in Dr. Russell’s Blaylock’s book, Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills (See Amazon.com). Excitotoxins are exactly what they sound like: Toxins like MSG, L-cysteine, and aspartame that excite your brain cells to DEATH!
MSG is a toxic substance people consume in processed foods, and probably wouldn’t if they knew it causes many of their brain cells to die.
One report from Japan suggests that consuming too much MSG can cause a person to go blind!
At one local grocery store that I frequent, they sell a small jar of “food enhancer.” When I looked, the ONLY ingredient was MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG). While it is true that MSG is a food enhancer, it is unhealthy and unsafe. To me, this is just plain criminal to sell a product like this in the store (and also to include it in a number of food items at the grocery store and in restaurants).
And haven’t you been to some Chinese restaurants that advertise: “No MSG” ? There must be some real concerns and reasons why Chinese restaurants promote “No MSG.” It would be great if the rest of the food industry in the U.S. would also wake up. Much more could be written on this subject. See the links on MSG below.
LINKS ON HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (HFCS)
high fructose corn syrup (Answers.com)
http://www.answers.com/topic/high-fructose-corn-syrup
The Way We Live Now: The (Agri)Cultural Contradictions of Obesity (New York Times Magazine)
http://www.michaelpollan.com/article.php?id=52
Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition article
The Double Danger of High Fructose Corn Syrup (Weston A. Price Foundation)
http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html
High Fructose Corn Syrup – What is it?
http://lostinrandomosity.wordpress.com/2007/05/08/high-fructose-corn-syrup-what-is-it/
The Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup / John Mericle, M.D.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Dangers-of-High-Fructose-Corn-Syrup&id=28535
Stop High Fructose Corn Syrup
http://stophfcs.com/
Dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup – HFCS (Femhealth Botanicals For Women)
http://www.femhealth.com/DangersofHFCS.html
High Fructose Corn Syrup (The National Men’s Resource Center)
http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/highfructose.html
LINKS ON MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG)
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/monosodium_glutamate.htm
The Obesity Epidemic: Should We Believe What We Read and Hear? / Jack Samuels (Weston A. Price Foundation)
http://www.westonaprice.org/msg/msgobesity.html
MSG–Still a Hidden Ingredient / Jack Samuels (Weston A. Price Foundation)
http://www.westonaprice.org/msg/msghidden.html
The Truth About MSG:
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/
Making An Informed Decision:
http://poisonevercure.150m.com/
MSG Links Page (Mercola.com)
http://www.mercola.com/article/links/msg_links.htm
The Danger of MSG and How it is Hidden in Vaccines (Mercola.com)
http://www.mercola.com/2002/jun/8/msg_vaccines.htm
MSG is Why You Want to Avoid McDonald’s Like the Plague (Mercola.com)
http://www.mercola.com article
Eye Damage from MSG (Mercola.com)
http://www.mercola.com/2002/nov/9/msg.htm
SEE THE MAIN SITE OF GLENN GOHR’S WEBLOG:
http://glenngohr.wordpress.com
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Hi Glenn,
I picked up your article on a google alert for HFCS. Thank you for your list of “aliases” for MSG. HFCS has invaded our food supply as you have clearly listed the many products tainted with the industrial sweetener. Courtesy of the Corn Refiners Assoc., go to http://www.corn.org/NSFC2006.pdf P29-30 list all the foods and products that contain HFCS. A few surprises even for me: bagels, bacon, cough syrups. StopHFCS.com lists foods that are HFCS-free. They welcome additions and suggestions. European import stores are a good bet. Europe prohibits genetically modified foods (GMO) which safely eliminates HFCS. Take care.
hey thanks for providing the information. As many times we just eat food without knowing what does it contain or its nutritional value. But Iguess this will help us to maintain ourself.
Never send a man shopping;) Seriously, I never used to read labels. When I found out I had Celiac disease, I was forced to start reading every label. What amazes me is the many products that wheat and gluten can be found in–products you would never suspect contained these things.
Thank you so much for this information on ranch dressing. My daughters had ranch at school last week and came home asking for it. My husband bought the store brand which contained HFCS! I went to Hidden Valley’s website to find out if they also include it in their dressing. The ingredient list is not available online. You saved me some searching at the store. I’m going to look for ranch at Trader Joe’s.
yes, i read about msg, its really bad. i would say its the perfect secret for a food seller to become rich. some time ago i stoped eatting anything that had msg or aspartame i simple stoped having craves. msg makes our apetite increase a lot.
Unfortunatly even nutritionist in my country dont even know about that and keep saying to people eat light products and other fulled with msg.
I just found your web-site while doing recipes research and decided to write to you about my salad dressing products.
My husband Richard and I have a Los Angles based “ma & pa” salad dressing company called Sis’ Meliss Family Recipes. We specialize in developing our own families healthy and delicious recipes. Made with ONLY the purest of ingredients like Extra Virgin Olive Oil (NO Canola oil used), no added sugars and kept low-sodium as well!
We created this business to be able to provide people with a much healthier alternative than what you see in your supermarkets. Right now we are only in the Southern California Whole Foods stores and a few ma & pa locations of New Leaf Markets in Santa Cruz, CA. However we do sell it privately by the case.
Please feel free to check us out on the web at: http://www.sismeliss.com – If you are interested, I would be happy to send you a bottle for sampling!
Thank you,
Melissa Marks