Deciphering the contents of any
processed food item can be a formidable task. Trying to read the
labels of foods you are purchasing while accompanied by your small
children should be an Olympic event! Unless they are asleep or you've
opened a giant bag of snacks for them to eat while you shop, scrutiny
of your groceries can be nearly impossible.
Food manufacturers market numerous items for our children, and many
parents stock the pantry and refrigerator with nutritious snacks.
However, we need to take a look at the quality and actual contents to
determine what exactly we are feeding our offspring. Parents can avoid
the sugary, colorful, processed foods, but many so-called healthful
snacks contain a variety of food colorings, preservatives, texturizers
and trans fats such as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
My daughter likes to eat blueberry filled Kellogg's Nutri-Grain
cereal bars. They are advertised as having “low fat,” an
“excellent source of calcium,” and a “good source of nine
vitamins and minerals” with “no preservatives." In theory,
all of this is true, but the label that revealed the ingredients for
these cereal bars named many other items I was not familiar with as
food: maltodextrin, xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan and
partially hydrogenated soy bean or cotton seed oil. I don’t know
about you, but these are not ingredients I use to bake cookies.
So, what are they? Basically, these ingredients are texturizers,
stabilizers, emulsifiers, and trans fats – all items used to
increase the shelf life of a food. Most folks who bake a batch of
cookies and store them in a container will notice after a few days
that the cookies begin to crumble and lose their original shape. Many
of these additives (which are not deemed preservatives) are actually
added to our foods to keep them from losing their shape while they are
distributed across the country.
Maltodextrin is derived from corn starch and is used as a
texturizer or bulking agent in baked goods. Xanthan gum is also
derived from corn and is classified as an emulsifier or stabilizer.
People who have corn allergies may not be aware that these additives
are derived from corn. Guar gum is bean by-product used as a thickener
and carrageenan, which serves a similar purpose, is derived from
seaweed.
Are Additives Harmful?
Partially hydrogenated oils are acknowledged contributors in the
obesity controversy among children and adults in the United States.
Trans fatty acids are now added to many snack foods that we consume
each day and some research indicates they are more harmful than
saturated fats because they increase the plasma concentrations of LDL
(low-density lipoprotein, also known as the “bad” cholesterol)
while reducing the concentration of HDL (high-density lipoprotein,
which removes cholesterol from the lining of your arteries.)
When vegetable oils are hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated to
make them more solid at room temperatures, trans fatty acids are
formed and the natural essential fatty acids are destroyed. They are
considered to lack metabolic compounds of the originals and provide no
nutritional benefits. So, why are they used in commercial foods? They
have a high melting point like saturated fats and prevent food from
becoming rancid. Trans fats do occur naturally in meat and dairy
products from grazing animals such as cows and sheep.
Take a quick look at the labels of mass-produced cookies, crackers,
cereals, breads, pastries and other processed snacks and you’ll see
how prevalent this ingredient has become. This is largely due to the
fact that partially hydrogenated oils remain solid at room
temperatures, reducing spoilage. It is estimated that the average
American eats 5.3 grams of trans fatty acids each day, with over
three-fourths of trans fatty acids consumed as a food additive.
What Else Is In Those Healthful Snacks?
Another favorite food of my toddler is yogurt. When all else fails to
satiate, yogurt frequently appeals to youngsters on picky food days.
Parents of lactose tolerant children dispense the stuff freely, since
many parents are now aware of the benefits of the healthful bacteria
that most yogurts contain.
Some commercial yogurts marketed for children can contain odd bits
of junk food like sprinkles and chocolate covered granola that are
easily avoided. Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse and assortment of
animals or cartoon characters are used to grab the attention of our
young consumers. They are touted to contain fruit, calcium, and
lactobacillus. Unfortunately, most of these yogurts are not made from
organic milk and can contain a hormone called recombinant bovine
growth hormone, better known as rBGH. Since the FDA does not require
the addition of rBGH to be labeled, it's up to the savvy parent to
figure out if they want their child to be exposed to the effects of
this hormone.
What Is rBGH And Why Is It Necessary?
rBGH is a genetically-engineered hormone that increases a cow's milk
production. This increase can cause udders to become infected
(mastitis), requiring antibiotics to be administered. It also reduces
the life span of the cow. Milk produced using rBGH contains high
levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 or IGH-1, which has been linked
to human breast and gastrointestinal cancers. The Canadian government
did not approve the use of rBGH for consumption, stating that more
tests for human safety were required by its manufacturers, but in the
United States, unless it's labeled organic or rBGH free, yogurts
marketed for children can contain rBGH. The FDA approved the use of
rBGH in 1993. Any commercial diary products produced after this date
that are not labeled rBGH free or certified organic may be from cows
treated with rBHG.
Healthful Alternatives
Healthful alternatives exist to the nutri-grain bars and similar
child-friendly snacks. For example, Nature’s Choice made by
Barbara’s Bakery makes a triple berry fruit and grain bar similar in
appearance and taste to Kellogg’s Nutrigrain Bars, but does not
contain many of the texturizers and stabilizers and no hydrogenated
oils. A great list of alternative processed foods is available at www.safe-food.org.
This site provides a comprehensive list of organic and GMO free foods.
(GMO is an acronym for genetically modified organisms--- a process
where genes from one organism, such as a fish, are spliced and added
to another organism, such as a tomato, to improve shelf life,
appearance or resistance to pests.)
The organic dairy business is thriving because of the demand for
hormone-free milk and for humane animal husbandry practices. Many
companies such as Stonyfield Farm (www.stonyfield.com)
voice their opposition to rBGH on their website, detailing their
concerns of human health, animal welfare and quite notably the
viability of the family farm. Organic milks and yogurts can now be
found in many mainstream grocery stores as consumers request these
items for purchase.
Generally, these alternatives can cost anywhere from 25 to 30
percent more than generic or brand counterparts. Some may only be
purchased at health food stores rather than main stream grocers. If
you are lucky enough to have a local whole foods cooperative that
services your area, you can purchase healthful snack items for your
family in bulk and save a little on the price increase.
Being Reasonable
As parents, we can't verify every food our children eat to be
healthful. Every situation is different. Birthday parties or large
family gatherings where other people may not be as knowledgeable of
hormones or trans fatty acids are the times when I let things slide.
My daughter recently ate her first hot dog and drank her first cup of
Kool-Aid at a friend's birthday party. Since we don't eat these foods
at our table, I shrugged it off and let her enjoy the party. No need
to fret over each morsel.
Your child's diet will be most affected by the foods served by you
– his or her parent. Nutritious and healthful eating is a time
consuming process of parenting, somewhat akin to consistent
discipline: it takes a little extra time, but it's worth all the
benefits.
Technology
has changed our world at such a rapid pace that even the
newest words added to Webster's Dictionary may catch some
folks off guard. Frankenfoods may still be considered slang,
but many people are now familiar with the phrase
“genetically modified organism.” Toss in terms such as
monoculture, biopiracy, biopollution, and terminator gene and
you may wonder if there's a new science fiction movie afoot.
