How about
some Polydimethylsiloxane, Hydrogen Peroxide, Silicon Dioxide, and Glycerides
for dinner?
Though this
sentence will not be overheard in common households, it oftentimes still
applies. These chemicals can be found in processed food products in kitchens
nationwide. They serve as emulsifiers, dough conditioners, anti-caking agents,
and even anti-foaming agents. Sounds delicious, right?
Not so much.
Consumers have been paying attention to ingredient labels, and are not interested
in foods created in a science laboratory. One should not need a chemistry
degree to read a food label!
That said,
shoppers are now looking for “clean label” products – simple, organic items
with minimal processing and free from allergens. Though it does not have a
clear definition, “clean label” typically suggests transparency from the
producer, building trust in the product. The impact of this trend on the food
industry is evident. According to the Datamonitor Group, the amount of
gluten-free products on the global food market has risen from 2.9% in 2007 to
6.8% in 2013. These rates are even higher in the United States, where the
prevalence has increased from 6.4% to 16.7% in the same period.
However, the
idea of “clean label” goes beyond “natural” claims. In fact, many consumers
have grown wary of “natural” products, as food producers often bend the implied
meaning of the term. This is not unexpected, considering that the United States
Food and Drug Administration has provided no formal definition of “natural” in
relation to food and beverage production. Again, this consumer inclination is
evident as the number of products on the market worldwide with a natural claim
fell from 8.8% in 2007 to 6.3% in 2013. The trend is even more noticeable in the
United States, where the amount has fallen from 33% to 22% from 2007 to
present.
In response
to this confusion, the National Organic Program (NOP) defined “natural” in
relation to the production of organic goods. In summary, the NOP states that a
substance is natural if it is derived from natural sources and does not undergo
synthetic processes. This rule sets the standard for organic products, but one
must still be cautious of conventional products and read the ingredient label!
Though processed foods are sometimes
deceiving, this is not always the case. Whenever you see “Rice Concentrate” or
“Rice Extract” listed on a food label, you can rest assured that the processor
is using RIBUS products, which are derived from rice, to replace synthetics and
chemicals.
Sources:
No comments:
Post a Comment