Continental Chicken Powdered Stock

When you read the label on the front of this product you can see that it claims to have NO ADDED MSG. This can be very misleading to the average consumer. This is done to take to focus off the back of the ingredient listing, when if you take the time to read this label you will see there is definitely a form of MSG here.

Ingredients:

Salt, sugar, flavours, (contain milk derivative), maltodextrin (from wheat), maize starch, onion, chicken(4%), sunflower oil, yeast extract, parsley, flavour enhancer (635), mineral salt(potassium chloride), anti-caking agent(551),colours (caramel iv, turmeric), wheat starch, spice extract, herb extracts.

Possible reactions are:

Flavours are open for interpretation; there can be many artificial chemicals that make up just one flavour. This label states flavours, so there may be hundreds of chemicals in just these flavours alone. Yeast extract, spice extract and herb extract are all highly likely to be MSG, which may result in asthma, depression, sleeplessness, hyperactivity, mood changes, abdominal discomfort, headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, hives, neck pain, pins and needles, nausea, migraine, and also linked to infertility. 635 carries simular effects as MSG including swelling of the lips and tongue, it should be avoided by asthmatics and people with kidney disease and gout. Flavour enhancer 635, may cause sleeplessness, hyperactivity, mood changes and extremely itchy skin rashes. This additive is banned in some countries, though it is very common with Australian foods.

Not all stocks are made the same, though this is very common place to have such additives within a highly flavoured product. Always read the product ingredient label to be sure of what you are consuming.

Information sourced from Chemical Maze and Additive Alert

Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Bar

Everyone has heard of Nutri-Grain, whether it be for breakfast or as a snack in the above mentioned bar variety. We are told it will help grow big strong iron men. I am not so sure about that. These bars are made for and marketed toward our children, amazing!

Ingredients:
Cereals (32%) (Wheat flour, oatmeal, maize flour), choc compound (20%) (sugar, palm oil, whey powder, cocoa, emulsifier( soy lecithin), flavour(vanilla), sugar, glucose, wheat gluten, glucose solids, fructose, dextrose, humectants( glycerol, sorbitol), vegetable oils( hydrogenated soybean oil(antioxidant 320), hydrogenated palm oil, treacle, barley malt extract, molasses, salt, mineral salt(sodium bicarbonate), natural colours(caramel 111, paprika, turmeric), flavour, emulsifier( soy lecithin).

There is an alarming amount of refined sugars throughout the ingredient listing, including sugar glucose, fructose, dextrose and glucose solids. Some of these ingredients are added more than once. Glycerol can cause headache, high blood sugar levels and is a skin and eye irritant in sensitive people. Sorbitol is not suitable for diabetics, can cause liver toxicity, and gastrointestinal upsets, prohibited in foods for infants and young children. Sorbitol may cause bowel problems, colic, flatulence, diarrhoea and may alter drug absorption. Any oil that has been hydrogenated should never be consumed. 320 is a suspect carcinogen, asthmatic and aspirin sensitive people should avoid, headache, wheezing, insomnia, fatigue and depression, causes metabolic changes and accumulates in body fat. Banned in Japan since 1958. Not permitted in foods for infants and young children. Barley malt extract may be MSG. Natural colour 111 is also known as 150c, which is linked to gastro intestinal problems and hypersensitivity. Flavour can be an unlimited cocktail of ingredients as there is no requirement to label the full ingredients used to make any flavour. So who really knows what it is that we are consuming when it comes to flavour? Your guess is as good as mine.

So with all of these additives used to make is product, how is it that Kellogg’s claim this is just what our growing children need?
They should be ashamed of themselves.

Select Rice Bars Chocolate
So I found these chocolate flavoured rice bars in Woolworth’s muesli bar section recently and was rather disgusted with the labelling and what REALLY is in the ingredients. On the front of the pack reads “No Added Artificial Colours or Flavours”. This is extremely misleading to consumers. This marketing tactic is designed to take your attention away from the ingredient listing. Please be aware of false information.
This is what is REALLY inside:
Puffed rice (26%) (Whole rice (23%). Sugar, salt, malt barley extract),maltodextrin, sugar coated chocolate chips (14.5%)(sugar. Whole milk powder, maize starch, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, natural colours (titanium dioxide (171), curcumin(100), carmine(120), copper Chlorophyllin(141). Whey powder, skimmed milk powder, stabiliser(gum arabic(414)), glazing agents(beeswax(901), carnauba wax(903), shellac(904)), emulsifier(soy lecithin), natural flavour), sunflower oil(antioxidant(306), food acid(citric), marshmallow(sugar, water, glucose, gelling agent(gelatine), natural flavour, preservative(211), invert sugar, sugar, dextrose, glucose,(preservative(223)), humectants(glycerol), cocoa powder(1.7%),emulsifiers(soy lecithin,471), natural flavour, modified starch(1414)

And here is what those additives can cause:
Barley malt extract frequently contains MSG. Natural colour 171 is used to make foods white. There is concern over long term safety in relation to reproduction and cancer. It is not recommended for regular consumption. 100 – curcumin is prohibited in foods for infants. People with gallstones or liver disorders should limit intake. Stabiliser 414 can cause asthma and skin rashes in sensitive people. 901 may cause occasional allergic reactions in sensitive people. Both 903 and 904 may cause a rare skin allergy in sensitive people. Natural flavour can be made up of a number of chemicals with no way of knowing the combinations and amounts, as manufacturers do not have to disclose this information to the consumer here in Australia. Gelatine is usually animal derived and has a potential risk of infectious disease, risk factors are unknown. Preservative 211 is also known as Sodium Benzoate which causes behavioural problems, hyperactivity, nettle rash, headaches, stomach upset and asthma. Aspirin sensitive people should avoid. While preservative 223 causes hay fever, nausea, nettle rash, swelling, behavioural problems and gastric irritation. Asthmatics should avoid. Glycerol may cause headaches, eye and skin irritations and high blood sugar levels. More natural flavour with a potential of unlimited chemicals. While 1414 my cause diarrhoea.
These are the types of foods now found within so many children’s school lunchboxes. These bars can be made without all of these harmful food additives, though this manufacturer choose to provide a product (in my eyes) that is unfit for a developing child’s body. When making a choice, read labels front and back and make an informed choice……….because our children are worth it!

So why not give these a go!

Real Rice Bubble Bars
What is in it?
200g marshmallows
80g block butter
4 cups rice bubbles

What to do
Line a lamington tray with baking paper.
Measure rice bubbles and place them in a large bowl. Set aside.
Melt marshmallows and butter in microwave on a low heat for 30 second bursts. Stir between each go, so it doesn’t burn.
The mix should appear smooth and creamy. (The butter may appear separated from the marshmallows, but will combine once added to rice bubbles).
Pour the marshmallows and butter mix onto the rice bubbles. Mix well until the rice bubbles are coated.
Tip into lined tray and press down with the back of a metal spoon, smooth over so it is flat.
Cool in the fridge for an hour or until set then remove from the fridge, and lift out of tray. Remove paper.
Cut into approx 24 bars or smaller for a more bite size piece.

Note – I choose Pascal Mega Marshmallows as they have no colour, though do have a flavour added. Brown puffed rice found in the supermarket health food section is a great choice for this recipe.