Harmful "healthy" products

ABC MagazineThe European Union requires "useful" products to prove their usefulness

Grocery shopping sometimes turns into a real detective investigation. In which of the bright attractive packages is the next achievement of the chemical industry hidden, and where are useful and relatively natural products hidden?

The European Food Safety Administration (EFSA) is tightening requirements for manufacturers of food products declared as "healthy". This is stated in the next newsletter of the World Health Organization (WHO): Europe puts health claims to the test – WHO. Volume 87, Number 9, September 2009, 645-732. EFSA makes the main claims to probiotic dairy products, as well as to various fortified foods.

"Adding vitamins to sweets does not make them healthy," says Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the WHO Department of Nutrition and Healthy Development, and clarifies that if vitamin supplementation contributes to excessive consumption of sweets, then it can be considered harmful.

The European Commission has instructed EFSA to prepare a scientific conclusion on the health benefits of certain existing products. And develop scientifically based requirements for the future. Currently, the administration's experts have already studied 70 statements of "usefulness", 54 of which were found to be untrue. In five cases, it was about the beneficial effect of lactic acid products with probiotics on immunity, digestion and other aspects of the body's vital activity.

A number of manufacturers urgently withdrew their statements and began actively condemning EFSA's actions through their press services.  So, Michael J. Michael J Neuwirth, senior director of public Relations at Danone in the USA, stated: "Activia and DanActive are not only scientifically sound, they are regularly consumed with pleasure by millions of highly satisfied consumers."

Susan Doring, Director of Consumer Information on Nutrition and Health, Confederation of Industrial Companies of the European Union Producing Food and Beverages (CIAA), believes that the upcoming changes will "hinder innovation" and will lead to fewer products on the market and a narrower choice for consumers.

Sue Davies, General Counsel of the non-profit consumer organization Which? (UK), believes that manufacturers actually created this situation themselves: "People attacked food products promising health benefits. It is inherent in human nature to resort to a means to quickly resolve difficulties, instead of reducing the intake of saturated fat, sugar or salt and eating more fruits and vegetables."

The work carried out by EFSA should be completed by January 31, 2010.

Actors: cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream and others.

They pose as: dairy products, and even live on a counter with a corresponding sign.

What are they really? Insidious impostors, distant relatives of Milk. In general, the seventh water on preservatives is E210.

It would seem how elegant the inscriptions look: cottage cheese, sour cream, or yogurt. But this was not done to delight the eyes of buyers – the whole point is that according to domestic state standards (GOST), "yogurt", "cottage cheese" and "sour cream" can only be called fermented milk products containing milk and a special starter culture. And all the others, less dairy, are forced to hide behind gentle names.

How to expose?

Read the composition. Impostors have the right to starch, vegetable fat, and flavorings-sweeteners-dyes. You will not find useful lactic acid bacteria, but there are all kinds of preservatives that allow "cottage cheese" and "sour cream" to be stored without a refrigerator for three months.

Another "feature" of pseudo–dairy products is the "untitled" product. For example, on a pack of seemingly butter, it is written in large letters "Vologda", but the combination of "butter" is nowhere worth it. After all, butter is made exclusively from cream. And "Babushkino", "Village" and "Vologda" it is unknown what may contain in the composition and preservatives, and palm kernel oil, and water.

The same goes for ice cream. According to the new standards, "ice cream" has the right to be called a product based on milk and butter (well, plus fillers and flavorings-dyes, nowhere without them). Either – the briquette must be decorated with the inscription "vegetable-cream ice cream" or "ice cream with vegetable fat". Since it doesn't sound very appetizing, the inscription is usually made small and inconspicuous. And an attractive "Tasty", "Horn" or "Cup" is displayed large and beautiful.

Insert: the combination of "vegetable fat" most often hides hydrogenated fat (fat with a modified chemical structure) or palm oil. The use of hydrogenated fat increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammatory processes and obesity.

Palm oil refers to harmful saturated fats and causes the development of atherosclerosis. Its only advantages are cheapness and long shelf life.

Unbearable lightness

Actors: low-fat products

Pass themselves off as: healthy and low-calorie

What are they really? carbohydrate "bombs"

Low-fat foods are not nearly as tasty as "ordinary" ones. To fix this, manufacturers spare no effort, sugar and modified starch.

How to expose?

Pay attention not only to the fat content, but also carbohydrates. As a rule, it is at least twice the "carbohydrate content" of ordinary ones. Ubiquitous scientists have concluded that the constant consumption of low-fat foods can lead to premature aging, increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and heart disease. And the increased content of carbohydrates in light foods increases blood sugar levels and leads to an increase in insulin levels.

Sweet life

Actors: sweets marked "sugar-free"

Impersonate: dietary product

What are they really: appetite-arousing foods

Sweet, but without sugar – this is, of course, tempting, from the series "what to eat to lose weight." But think about it, due to what a pleasant taste of goodies is achieved?

How to expose?

If honey or pieces of fruit add sweetness to the product, everything is fine. But when there are sweeteners in the composition, be careful. Sugar substitutes awaken a brutal, almost pig-like appetite. This was used by American farmers, mixing sweeteners to "piglets" in the feed. The pigs immediately began to eat more and actively gained weight – almost like lovers of unsweetened sweets. If you don't believe it, refer to the statistics. Studies have shown that the daily consumption of soda is light by 41%. increases the risk of obesity. And this is not the only side effect of an unsweetened sweet life. Asparatam (E 951, for example) causes headaches, allergies, depression, insomnia, fructose causes obesity, sorbitol impairs digestion, and xylitol increases the likelihood of bladder cancer.

Of course, madam, you don't understand

Actors: products labeled "does not contain artificial flavors and dyes"

Impersonate: adherents of everything natural

What are they really: achievements of the chemical industry

Opponents of all kinds of E first of all pay attention to the call signs and happily put a useful product "without chemistry" in the cart.

How to expose?

Read the composition, and you will be very surprised. Both flavors and dyes are present there. Not "artificial", as it was stated, but also not natural, natural, but "identical to natural". The manufacturer is not obliged to specify that the compounds obtained by the chemical method are called "identical to natural". They are similar in composition to natural ones, but they cannot be called absolutely harmless either. Absolutely natural are dyes and flavors obtained from natural ingredients – essential oils, pieces of peel, extracts, etc.

Exclusive Exclusive

Actors: products with special properties

Impersonate: something unique

What are: ordinary products at a higher price

It is not easy to choose from dozens of product brands, and manufacturers make it easier for us by indicating the advantages of their goods in large letters.

How to expose?

Collect dossiers and analyze information. There are two main types of "baits": some teach the natural property of the product as something unusual. For example, a bottle of vegetable oil marked "does not contain cholesterol" stands out favorably among "comrades". Of course, it's worth paying more for it – if you don't know that any vegetable oil, in principle, cannot contain cholesterol, because it is of animal origin.

The second type is unusual properties that do not affect the quality of the product in any way. Eggs from colorful chickens, handmade pasta, portioned sugar on wooden sticks and juice poured exclusively by thirty–year-old brunettes - all this does not make the product tastier or healthier.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru
30.09.2009