Food shopping - reading the label

[helen]

Inspired by the Another reason to eat locally grown food (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=12445) thread I figured a poll might give an idea what a HawaiiThread user would look at when buying food at the supermarket.

The poll is set for multiple choice and is anonymous.

[anapuni808]

Good choices for this poll.............and interesting types of responses so far.

[tutusue]

Hrrrrrmph! It wouldn't let me vote, telling me I'd already voted. :( I feel so slighted, so insignificant; unworthy, invisible...

I've been reading labels for 38 years, fer crissakes. Lemme VOTE!

:D

[LikaNui]

Helen, I don't like your poll questions. ;)
Please note the wink. I actually do like it, but you might've added "price tag" in there.
Probably would've gotten the most votes.
:D

[helen]

but you might've added "price tag" in there.
That would be the function of the "other" choice in the poll.

[acousticlady]

Frankly, if I am going to eat something prepared, I don't want to know what is in it. I am well aware that all prepared food has stuff in it I shouldn't eat. I try to eat healthy - doesn't always work out that way (as I sit here munching on Reese's Pieces) but I try. And if I'm going to eat Reese's Pieces or a hot dog - I'd rather remain blissfully ignorant. I also don't care where it came from. If I'm going to eat a steak, I'd rather think it magically appeared on the supermarket shelf. I certainly don't want to think about the fact that it was once a living, breathing animal. As far as what country it came from? Heck, sometimes I seek out stuff from other countries - especially China. They got good food, some of my favorite cusine :p

[Pomai]

you might've added "price tag" in there.
Probably would've gotten the most votes.While that's not part of the product label, I agree. Most folks look at the PRICE before any other consideration, whether it be food or anything else.

I'd say, after the price tag, the very next thing my brain looks for is the BRAND.

Of course, those with health issues such as diabetes MUST read NUTRITION FACTS (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/foodlab.html#twoparts) on food labels.

I'm fortunate to (still) be healthy enough that sodium or sugar issues aren't a concern. Although in the long run, it always is for everyone. I most often read nutrition facts when buying ready-to-heat meals. If it exceeds 15-20 grams of fat per serving, I (in most cases) won't buy it. Unless the PICTURE looks REALLY good.

Case in point, one of those Jimmy Dean sausage breakfast sandwiches at Costco contains 28 grams of fat and over 800mg of sodium. OUCH. NO good looking label can convince to buy that.

I don't need a label to tell me that fresh vegetables, fruit and fish are good for me.

You ever read the label of shampoo, soap or other hygiene product while on the toilet? I do that when there's nothing else to "concentrate" on in the bathroom. If there's one thing I learned by that, is that most shampoos are made with Sodium Laureth Sulfate. :o

I also STILL enjoy reading the ENTIRE cereal box while eating some.

Scrivener looks at bread twist tie colors. :D

[ploal5333]

If it exceeds 15-20 grams of fat per serving, I (in most cases) won't buy it.

I had to smile when I read this. Most nutritionists recommend 6g of fat or less per serving, so 15g-20g is pretty generous. :D

[LikaNui]

You ever read the label of shampoo, soap or other hygiene product while on the toilet? I do that when there's nothing else to "concentrate" on in the bathroom. If there's one thing I learned by that, is that most shampoos are made with Sodium Laureth Sulfate. :o Gee, the first thing you should learn from that is that you need to install a magazine rack by the toilet.
:p

[Kelly0040]

After the big pet food recall, I've slowly started to become more and more aware (or paranoid depending on how ya look at it :) ) about my food and what goes into my body - what's in it, where it's from, how it was grown/manufactured, what it does to my body/how it makes me feel etc. I guess the day my mom told me our cat died after he'd been eating one of the recalled foods and then that list of rejected food from China came out, it made me realize that I had to start caring...even if it was just a lil bit.

I've also been slowly weeding out things in the cupboards - like moving things I'd like to get rid of to the front so my husband will eat them in a more timely manner. I dont necessarily want to throw them away, but I'm not going to replace them when they're gone. I've also filled up our food bank bin at work several times with items we just don't need to be eating. When I go shopping now, I usually go for the organic/natural version of some of our favorites or try to choose brands that don't use gm/ge ingredients. I also buy a lot more raw foods and visit famers' markets more often now. (I gave up BK's cheesy tots :( )

Price definitely is a factor for me because a lot of the things I'm picking up aren't exactly cheaper than what I was eating/using before. But, there are about 3 dozen things I've stopped purchasing entirely, which has saved me about $100 or so a month, so I'm all right with spending a few extra dollars here or there on something.

[tutusue]

[...]I guess the day my mom told me our cat died after he'd been eating one of the recalled foods[...]
Oh man, Kelly, that truly sucks. :mad: I'm so sorry to hear that.

[Leo Lakio]

Gee, the first thing you should learn from that is that you need to install a magazine rack by the toilet.
:pThat's ... too ... funny.:p

[Pomai]

That's ... too ... funny.:pIt's even more funny to think that one could be in the frame of mind to actually think ingredients for a bar of soap can actually be interesting at that particular moment in time. Or let alone any magazine article that, otherwise, would be boring. :D

[Glen Miyashiro]

Sometimes it's really better not to think about it. :rolleyes:

It’s like sitting at the breakfast table
and it’s early in the morning and you’re not quite awake
and you’re just sitting there eating cereal and sort of staring at the writing on the box
not reading it exactly -- just more or less looking at the words
and suddenly for some reason you snap to attention and you realize that
what you’re reading is what you’re eating
but by then it’s much too late.
(Laurie Anderson)

[LikaNui]

It's even more funny to think that one could be in the frame of mind to actually think ingredients for a bar of soap can actually be interesting at that particular moment in time. Indeed. A better plan would be to kill the time by tearing off a few squares of TP and practice the ancient art of origami (http://www.origami.com/gallery.html), ya think?
:p

[Pomai]

Indeed. A better plan would be to kill the time by tearing off a few squares of TP and practice the ancient art of origami (http://www.origami.com/gallery.html), ya think?
:pSounds like you have yourself an invention there... origami toilet paper! On each square sheet, print the fold lines in alternate sheets to make either a crane, boat or alligator. They need to reformulate the paper so that it holds creases better though. TP as it is too fluffy for that. :D

Back to the label reading topic, what's interesting and sometimes vague or misinforming is how manufacturers are jumping on the healthy bandwagon.

Just recently seen on a hard candy label (similar to Lifesavers), it had FAT FREE in bold print on the label. The main ingredient is SUGAR. While sugar itself isn't inherently bad for you, nor is it fat itself, if it exceeds your glycogen levels, insulin will convert it to FAT. So this candy being FAT FREE will ultimately depend on how active you are and/or your body's chemistry.