Content Spotlight
2024 Feedstuffs Feed Ingredient Analysis Table
It's back! Feedstuffs has updated its feed ingredient analysis values table of more than 100 commonly used feed ingredients.
Eating “clean” is all about avoiding foods with additives, preservatives or other chemicals on the label, but doing so could have consequences in terms of food waste, safety and cost.
November 1, 2017
Eating “clean” is all about avoiding foods with additives, preservatives or other chemicals on the label. Considering the numerous studies linking certain foods with health ailments, clean eating makes sense, right?
While it may seem well intentioned, Iowa State University professors of food science and human nutrition Ruth MacDonald and Ruth Litchfield warn of the consequences in terms of food waste, safety and cost.
Clean food advocates suggest avoiding foods with ingredients that are hard to pronounce. MacDonald said several food manufacturers, restaurants and grocery stores have responded by removing additives to fit the definition of "clean."
The Iowa State professors said just because an ingredient or additive has an unfamiliar name does not automatically make it bad. The decision to remove additives appears to be driven more by market demand than consideration of the benefits these additives provide and the potential food safety risk, they said.
Removing nitrates from deli meats and hot dogs is just one example. MacDonald, who has spent more than 25 years investigating links between diet and cancer, said nitrates play a necessary role in preventing the growth of Clostridium botulinum — a deadly bacterium that causes food poisoning. Therefore, completely removing nitrates would be problematic.
MacDonald said food labels boasting “no nitrates” are typically referring to the synthetic version. If the package says “naturally cured” or “uncured,” it likely includes celery juice — a natural source of nitrates — as an ingredient. The nitrates in celery juice are not chemically different from synthetic forms, she said.
Consumer concern over nitrates is not without merit. Studies using animal models have found that high doses of nitrates may increase the risk for colon cancer. Before rushing to eliminate nitrates from the diet, MacDonald said it is important to understand what that risk means:
* Nitrates are a naturally occurring chemical found in many fruits and vegetables and do have some health benefits.
* The research is based on animal tests, and evidence for similar effects in humans has not been found.
* Human diets are complex, and many factors influence the potential effects of nitrates on the colon.
“People have a hard time understanding the risk/benefit ratio when it comes to foods. They see a chemical, such as nitrates, listed on the label and assume it is bad or the food contains a high amount,” MacDonald said. “The food safety risk without these preservatives is so much greater.”
The chemical function of nitrates is the same, regardless of the source, MacDonald added, so replacing synthetic nitrates with natural sources does not make food safer. In fact, research has shown that the amount of nitrates in celery juice is not always consistent. MacDonald said with synthetic nitrates, food manufacturers can add the precise amount to protect against food poisoning.
How did we get here?
Decoding food labels and understanding food risk is tricky even for well-informed consumers. While there is plenty of reliable information online, Litchfield and MacDonald pointed to social media as the greatest culprit for the confusion.
“Social media has gotten us to this point. It is a big driver of distrust,” Litchfield said. “The one thing I would tell consumers is do not believe everything they see on social media. If they read about research on social media, track down the original study to see if it even exists.”
Litchfield, an expert on food safety and health promotion, has this advice for consumers:
* Consider the source of the information, and be wary of advocacy groups using social media to push an agenda that may not be in the public’s best interest.
* Food manufacturers quickly respond to changes in consumer preference, so before buying into the latest fad, think about whether it is market driven or science based.
* Do not assume that food label buzzwords such as “clean” or “all natural” are synonymous with nutritious or healthful.
The same is true for products with “no high-fructose corn syrup” on the label. Litchfield and MacDonald said that does not mean it is sugar free. Similar to nitrates, manufacturers replace the corn syrup with other sweeteners such as tapioca syrup, a common substitute in ketchup. MacDonald said the syrups are made using a similar conversion process, but consumers may notice a difference in price. That’s because tapioca syrup comes from cassava, which must be imported and may cost more.
“There is no evidence that high-fructose corn syrup is bad for you or less natural or safe,” MacDonald said. “The food industry is developing all these alternative sweeteners — beet syrup, fruit sugars and agave syrup — but they are all sugar. The names just sound better on the label.”
What a waste
Litchfield expects that food waste in the U.S. — which already totals about 20 lb. per person each month — will only get worse with the removal of additives and preservatives. Ingredients such as sodium benzoate, calcium propionate and potassium sorbate control the growth of microorganisms in foods without changing the character or taste of the food, she said. Without these and many other additives, foods will spoil faster, increasing food safety risk and the likelihood of more food ending up in the trash.
“Many food additives make the food structure more stable, such as keeping marshmallows soft and crackers crispy. Additives reduce off-flavors, prevent separation of liquids or oils or give foods a pleasant feel in our mouths. Taking these types of ingredients out of foods will probably increase the amount of food we throw away,” Litchfield said.
Americans expect their food supply to be safe, plentiful, convenient and low cost, which explains why grocery stores now offer more than 40,000 different food items. The convenience and choice many consumers value would not be possible without advances in food technology, the professors said, and these are all things for consumers to consider when they ask for “clean” food.
You May Also Like