Flavorists Create Artificial and "Natural" Flavors

I first came across the term Flavorist about a month ago while reading Eric Schlosser's book, "Chew on This", a hard look into the fast food industry's food and practices.  A flavorist is a chemist who creates artificial and "natural" flavors from chemicals.

Since then, I have seen the terms "artificial flavors" and "natural flavors" on many things -- including some from brands and sources I trust more than others.

CBS's 60 Minutes did a short clip into the world's largest flavor creation company, Givaudan, last Fall.  Getting any level of access is extraordinary, so enjoy the video when you get a moment.

Most of the flavor companies occupy space along the New Jersey's turnpike, one of them being International Flavors and Fragrances, and they employ tens of thousands of people -- all with the goal of making your taste and smell experience addictive.  The companies that employ them do so to sell you more, but even the so-called "natural flavors" are less than desirable.

Flavorists are chemists.  They use man-made chemicals (or chemicals made from natural sources) to create the flavors we crave.  Complicated flavors like coffee and meat can take hundreds of different chemicals to complete.  And the US Government does not require disclosure of what is actually present in the flavorings -- thus the simple phrases of artificial and natural flavors on the ingredient list.

Natural and artificial flavors are made at the same factories and often use the same chemical, one is just derived from a natural source.  And often that natural source has nothing to do with the plant, fruit, etc, you are actually tasting.

Schlosser writes that the addictiveness of McDonald's french fries in the early decades was because they were fried in beef fat, lending the beef taste to the potato (Burger King uses chicken flavoring).  However,  citing health concerns over beef fat, the US Government banned it and in 1990 McDonalds switched to using vegetable oil "flavored" with beef fat.  If you want the real deal, beef fat is still used in McDonald's restaurants in Australia, Japan, Canada and Mexico.

As an example of the hidden ingredients inside "artificial flavoring", consider the strawberry shake at a fast food restaurant.  Just the artificial strawberry flavoring alone includes the following ingredients:

• amyl acetate
• amyl butyrate
• amyl valerate
• anethol
• anisyl formate
• benzyl acetate
• benzyl isobutyrate
• butyric acid
• cinnamyl isobutyrate
• cinnamyl valerate
• cognac essential oil
• diacetyl
• dipropyl ketone
• ethyl butyrate
• ethyl cinnamate
• ethyl heptanoate
• ethyl heptylate
• ethyl lactate
• ethyl methylphenylglycidate
• ethyl nitrate
• ethyl propionate
• ethyl valerate
• heliotropin
• hydroxyphrenyl-2-butanone (10% solution in alcohol)
• ionone
• isobutyl anthranilate
• isobutyl butyrate
• lemon essential oil
• maltol
• 4-methylacetophenone
• methyl anthranilate
• methyl benzoate
• methyl cinnamte
• methyl heptine carbonate
• methyl naphthyl ketone
• methyl salicylate
• mint essential oil
• neroli essential oil
• nerolin
• neryl isobutyrate
• orris butter
• phenethyl alcohol
• rose
• rum ether
• undecalactone
• vanillin
• solvent

Yum!  Enjoy that strawberry shake!

Like the world of colorants, it may be wise to limit or avoid processed foods that need flavoring of any kind to sell.  Limited or no research has been done on the long-term effects of consuming these chemicals.

Your thoughts?

Rain Forest Alliance Certified Grapes

My mother-in-law called me the other day and said she had purchased unbranded grapes from the grocery store that had the Rain Forest Alliance stamp on them and wondered if that also signified that they were organic and untreated with sulphur dioxide.

So I did a little research.  I found that the logo does not necessarily indicate that the product is free from sulphur dioxide or organic.  But it still matters.

The Rain Forest Alliance is a non-profit organization celebrating 25 years working to preserve the rain forests by:

• Keeping forests standing
• Curbing Climate Change
• Protecting Wildlife
• Alleviating poverty
• Transforming business practices

Purchasing foods with the Rain Forest Alliance logo ensures that you are buying from a company that uses its land in a sustainable way and that is paying fair wages.  It certainly is worthy of purchasing over a product that does not have the certification, but it doesn't necessarily make the food product healthier.

Searching for a New School District and School Lunch

Americans move -- a lot!  Almost 15% of the entire population moves annually and families are the most likely to move a long distance.

Sometimes people have a choice where they live, sometimes they are looking in a narrower handful of miles.  But if you have kids, you probably will ask a realtor or employer where the best schools are for your children.  Best is usually defined by standardized test scores or education philosophy.  But what about food?

Most schools offer their lunch choices online.  As I have perused our area schools, I have noticed a wide variance in the quality of food within each district -- and really, none of them in our immediate area are spectacular.  I have even found a school who contracted with Arby's and Pizza Hut to weekly supply a lunch!

In just a little research, I was able to uncover two school districts that are doing well in nourishing their children and educating them.  Both happen to be from California school districts, but there are many across the country -- seemingly most existing on the East and West coasts.

1. The first example is from the Novato Unified School District in Marin County, California.  Their lunch menu looks a bit better than in our area.  They feature a vegetable and fruit every month, offer salads daily and partner with Marin Organic to supply their food needs with local organic produce.
2. The second example is Oceanside Unified School District in San Diego County, California.  The menu and healthy lifestyle promotion is prevalent throughout their web site.  The also feature daily salads, meatless Mondays, vegetarian options, and fresh fruit.  They also serve their food on biodegradable trays and use biodegradable utensils.  They have partnered with www.leanandgreenkids.org to enhance their food program.

What kids eat is as important as what they learn.  When looking for a great school district for your kids, you may want to consider visiting the cafeteria too.

Do you live in a great school district that offers nutritious meals?  Tell us about it!

Natural Vitamins for Children (and Adults)

Parents want the best for their children and many supplement their children's nutritional needs with a daily vitamin.

If asked, many doctors will say to make sure to look for certain levels of vitamin, otherwise brand doesn't matter.  Or does it?

When we went looking for vitamins for our children, we found almost all of the chewable vitamins for children contain wood pulp (disguised as microcrystalline cellulose), many artificial colors (including those with aluminum like Yellow 6 Aluminum Lake), silicon dioxide (associated with several health risks), artificial sweeteners and flavors and lactose (milk) to name just a few.

Then we discovered Gummy Vites brand.  They contain no wheat, milk, eggs, peanuts or soy.  The colors are derived naturally from annatto extract, black carrot juice and turmeric.  The flavors (cherry, strawberry, tropical punch, orange, lemon, white grape) are also from their natural source.

I think the assumption is that vitamins are automatically healthy.  In truth, many carry the same junk as in highly processed foods.

We like the Gummy Vites brand (made by Northwest Natural Products) for the kids and the MultiVites for adults.  Our kids love the taste and they come in the traditional gummy bear shape.

What do you use and why?

Cacao or Cocoa Nibs

Some recipes call for cacao "nibs".  A nib is simply a small piece of the larger cacao bean.

Many people don't know that the cacao bean comes from a collection of seeds within a pod grown on the cacao tree in tropical regions.  It is surrounded by a sticky substance and locals call it a "jungle M&M".

The beans are cleaned and traditionally sun-dried.

Cacao Nibs

After they are dried, the bean can be ground into powder.  A "nib" is simply a small piece of the dried bean.  The nib is bitter with a coffee/ nutty taste.

Nibs are sometimes called for in cookies, smoothies, oatmeals, cereal, yogurt and more.  It's a great way to  add nutrients and antioxidants to some foods without adding the sugar and fat usually associated with chocolate.

Enjoy a few nibs (or grind your own from whole raw cacao beans) -- found at your local health foods store.

Cacao Tree

Cacao Pod 

Dried Cacao Beans