A lot of people are concerned about health these days. As consumers, we are trying to become more aware of what is put in our food and therefore what is put in our bodies. As a mother of two children on a gluten-free diet, I am even more careful about label checking. It's not easy. If you don't know already, here is a big tip for you- the FDA is a big load of horse crap! Manufacturers know this and they take advantage of it every chance they can. Don't believe me!?! Let me give you a good easy to spot example. We have probably all seen those Diabetes Association labels popping up on foods right? The idea is that diabetics can safely choose these foods because they are endorsed by The Diabetes Association (or Foundation or whatever they're calling themselves these days). Anyway, it's supposed to make shopping "easier", right? WRONG!!!!!! Do you know what it takes to get this oh-so-special edorsement seal? A donation. Yup, that's it. Granted I'm sure it's a large amount, but ya, all they have to do is pay for the right to use the official logo. The Diabetes group does not look into every product they "endorse" and the ones they do check up on, the manufacturers have already cleverely made the food "look" healthy at first glance (what you usually find if you look closer is lots of sugar in different forms with "hidden" and confusing names, lots of white flour- which will shoot your blood sugar up just as high and fast as sugar, oh and can't forget, they load it up with fat and chemicals to make it "taste good").
You may think, well, shame on them for doing that, but what does the FDA have to do with this? The FDA does not regulate this kind of labeling. In fact the FDA is pretty relaxed on all labeling. Yes, there are things in place to make the FDA crack down, but then manufacturers will find more ways to cheat and lie the system and the FDA is too overwhelmed to do much of anything.
So what does this have to do with a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free diets are growing in numbers and not just as a "fad dieting" craze. Celiacs Disease is on the rise as well as wheat allergies and gluten intolerance. This means big bucks for manufacturers if they can find a way to get in on it. Unfortunately, it is done so with little reguard to health and the suffering that happens when gluten in ingested. There are a lot of deceptive practices going around with the labeling for GF products. For example, a company will slap a big old shiny label on the front claiming "Gluten Free". It may be big, bright or have nifty symbols, in short, it will be "eye catching". It will be somewhere easy to see. Don't be fooled, check the label!!!! Several times I have found, way down at the bottom, almost hidden in all the other confusing labeling, MAY CONTAIN WHEAT. Yup! The front says GLUTEN FREE, but the side label tells a whole different story.
What does MAY CONTAIN WHEAT mean? It's put on products that are in fact gluten free, as in the product itself was not made or packaged with any gluten containing products (wheat, barley and rye). When the product is made or packaged, it is done so in the same building and on the same machines that handle wheat containing products. This can cause cross contamination. Cross contamination is a difficult demon to deal with. It can be small enough that it causes no problems or it can make a gluten sensitive person very sick. The FDA does nothing about this. As a parent, who is trying to keep her children healthy, I don't see why they can't make it to where you cannot not claim "gluten-free" in any way, shape or form unless the product is not only gluten free, but also produced and packaged in a gluten free environment. Several products are already manufactured in this way and some of them by big name companies (thank you to General Mills Chex and Betty Crocker for producing some really great GF products). I am more than happy to pay a bit more for a product that I know is safe. I'm already paying over $4 dollars a loaf for bread that is safe for my kids. GF animal crackers run over $3 per box (which is a little smaller in size than a box of graham crackers). I don't mind one bit! It is so worth it to be able to give my kids some of things they like after having to restrict so much.
We all know that manufacturers are all about making money. I get it. But come on FDA, protect the consumers. Help us out just a little. Yes, we the consumers need to take responsibility for our own health and be educated and aware, but when these companies are going to such great lengths to be sneaky and decieve the consumers, it becomes that much harder to do. But until stricter regulations are in place, just be extra careful. Do your research and read the entire label and ingredient list.
No comments:
Post a Comment