What's in a Label? You Have to See it to Believe it

This processed product is the perfect reason why all ingredients should be included on the label as otherwise how does the consumer know what is in the food they are purchasing. Following is a photo to substantiate that I did not make up the list of ingredients in the pie, nor repeat any ingredients to extend content. This item was for sale at a big box grocery store recently and I was not sure if I should laugh or cry – just take a look at this label and read the labels please.

Here are the non food item ingredients

Classified as additives, preservatives, food enhancers, colourants, and other chemicals but not including sugars and salts :

• Crust
• Soy lecithin, Calcium propionate, Mono and Diglycerides, Colour
• Seasoning base
• Hydrolyzed soy protein, Autolyzed yeast extract, Silicon dioxide (classified with the dehydrated vegetables), Flavour, Beef extract, Colour, Sodium, Beef Extract
• Base
• Dextrose, Hydrolyzed soy and corn protein, Flavour, autolyzed yeast extract
• Silicon Dioxide, Colour, Disodium guanylate, Disodium Inosinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Colour
• As well as :
• May contain, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, various tree nuts, sesame, mustard, (and finally) Sulfites

I believe there are 78 total ingredients in this “simple” pie and the number increases to 85 if you include the ingredients it “may” contain, and including the sulfite there's a total of 29 additives! Besides the additives, preservatives et al, note that sugars, salt and water are in the top ingredients in each list (base, filling, etc) indicating higher content.

Q: By the way did you guess what sort of pie this was from the ingredients : was it a beef, vegetable, chicken or fish pie?

A: Right - it was chicken!

It is good to know where your food came from and how it was prepared ~ and without the chemicals.  This food item was a huge incentive to continue to bake from scratch. Happy label reading.

Everything I eat has been proved by some doctor or other to be a deadly poison, and everything I don't eat has been proved to be indispensable for life. But I go marching on.

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950 Critic, Political Activist, Playwright)

Reasons for shortlisting the above non food ingredients

• Soy lecithin - a natural emulsifier but can cause severe food allergy
• Calcium propionate – food additive & mold inhibitor PAN lists as slightly toxic
• Mono and Diglycerides – natural or synthetic food additive
• Food Colour – mentioned four times – four different colours i.e red, yellow, etc. Natural or artificial food enhancer and to make food look good. Some red, yellow, orange and violet dyes have been disallowed by FDA
• Hydrolyzed soy protein. Another name for MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• Autolyzed yeast extract – included twice. Another name for MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• Silicon dioxide (classified with the dehydrated vegetables) and included twice. Possibly carcinogenic
• Flavour – included twice. May be natural or artificial and an animal by product. MSG again
• Beef extract –(which is mainly yeast, salt and flavour enhancers) included twice
• Sodium – separate from salts. Sodium used in food is normally Sodium Nitrite
• Hydrolyzed soy and corn protein. Usually used in food with MSG
• Disodium guanylate. Enhancer not safe for babies and asthmatics
• Disodium Inosinate. Not proven carcinogenic but taken from food list
• Potassium Sorbate. Mold inhibitor
• Sodium Benzoate - a food preservative - mixed with other chemicals possibly cause hyperactivity and change DNA
• Xanthan Gum a food thickening additive. Allergies and respiratory concerns
• Sulfites. A preservative and allergen and may cause severe damage to babies. See metabolic diseases at Wikipedia