Why read labels? Test Case

[Guest guest]

Perhaps some of you have seen Simply Organic seasonings on

a store shelf.

 

I've used these over the years and thought them to be pretty decent so

when

I recently saw that they now have seasoning mixes I immediately thought

"Great.

Maybe these are something I could buy, try and carry in our store."

 

Then the bad news. Here is the sample label:

 

on the front "Simply Organic Southwest Taco Seasoning USDA Organic with

a beautiful picture

of two mouthwatering open tacos with whole tomatoes and sliced

tomatoes in the background.

 

The back ingredients: Organic Red Chilis, Organic Maltodextrin,

Organic Paprika, Sea Salt, Organic Garlic, Organic Onion, Organic

Potato Starch, Organic Coriander, Organic Cumin, Silcon Dioxide, Citric

Acid, Organic Cayenne

 

In my earlier email I already told you about the Organic Maltodextrin

and the Citric Acid so now for the Silcon Dioxide.

When I first pulled this up on the internet I thought I must have done

a search on the wrong item because the first thing I saw was

"other names - Silica Quartz, sand" It goes on and the next thing I

see is: "Silica is manufactured in several forms including: glass (a

colorless, high-purity form is called silica)

Silica gel - a drying agent for clothes and leather goods. It goes on

talking about ceramics, earthenware, drinking glasses, bottles, windows

and how it is a raw material for the production of Portland

cement.

 

A ways down the list I then see "food additive,

primarily as a flow agent in powdered goods, or to absorb water." "In

addition, silica is also used as a cosmetic additive in loose powders .

.. . "

 

Health effects

 

"Inhaling finely divided crystalline silica dust in significant

quantities can lead to silicosis or (much more rarely) cancer, as the

dust becomes lodged in the lungs and continuously irritates them

(silica does not dissolve over time). This effect can be an

occupational hazard for people working with sandblasting equipment,

products that contain powdered silica, and so on." Anyone want a job

mixing the above Taco Seasoning for Simply Organic? How about pouring

"silica Quartz sand" into your hamburger? The funny part was that when

I opened the sample package it was not free flowing but clumped. So

the Silcon Dioxide didn't even do its job.

 

Here's the rest of the Health effects:

 

"In all other respects, silicon dioxide is inert and harmless. When

silica is ingested orally, it passes unchanged through the

gastrointestinal tract, exiting in the feces, leaving no trace behind.

Small pieces of silicon dioxide are equally harmless, as long as

they are not large enough to mechanically obstruct the GI tract, or

jagged enough to lacerate its lining. Silicon dioxide produces no

fumes and is insoluable in a living organism. It is indigestible,

with zero nutritional value and zero toxicity."

 

Terrific. Now we know it is sand = not digestible, no nutrition and

zero toxicity and it won't hurt you as long as it is ground finely

enough not to tear up the lining of your stomach or intestinal tract.

Sounds like a substitue for "putting ground glass in the soup". And

notice how they say "it passes unchanged through the gastrointestinal

tract, exiting in the feces, leaving no trace behind." How do they

know that all of it exits in the feces leaving no trace behind? Can

they measure it when it goes in and be sure all of it comes out? And

right it doesn't leave any trace behind because the silica itself is

lining the intestines.

 

I'm really impressed with this ingredient. I can see how necessary it

is to include it in this seasoning mix. (joke)

 

So now you tell me why it's a good idea to always read labels and know

your ingredients. I'm sure many of you do this most of the time but

for those of you who don't pay any attention you might want to start.

 

Yours In Knowledge, Health and Freedom,

 

Valorie