[IMA-HelenT]

Today, the Independent Medical Alliance (IMA) formally called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enact a sweeping federal ban on synthetic chemical dye food colorings in all consumable products… read more https://imahealth.substack.com/p/hhs-must-enact-immediate-nationwide

imahealth.substack.com

HHS Must Enact Immediate Nationwide Ban on Harmful Synthetic Dyes from US Food Supply

The Independent Medical Alliance (IMA) calls on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ban synthetic chemical dye food colorings in all consumable products.

[Socrates]

This is an app, I believe there is a free version that will tell you what’s in each packet by scanning the bar-code: Hope this helps: I think you will find some other apps as well, at least its a start good luck

Yuka

https://yuka.io › en

yuka.io

Page non trouvée - Yuka

Page non trouvée - Yuka

[IMA-HelenT]

Use it all the time, really helps. 🙂

[warywatersprite]

It has been many years since the FDA started banning certain dyes. In Europe, the regulators ban more. They also assign and E number to every chemical. So the consumer sees these numbers in the ingredients label. Just visually, it is a big help. You know that if there is more than one number in a list of ingredients, that it is more highly processed food.

For us, anything that says “flavor’ or ‘flavorings’ is highly processed. Just don’t buy it. Even if the flavoring is just to enhance the food ingredients, it is a sign that the original ingredients may be lacking in nutritional value if they are not flavorful on their own. Like applesauce that contains apple juice or other sweetener.

This state of our groceries actually does me a favor because I have low will power. Reading an ingredient label is a sure way to get me to place a processed food product back on the shelf.

[IMA-HelenT]

Agree, it really helps me _ I focus on fresh food and when I buy anything that’s processed in any way I use an app called Yuka to help. Thanks, @warywatersprite, for adding to the conversation.

[vegandan]

I have been reading food labels for 35 years since adopting the vegan lifestyle. I try to avoid harmful ingredients by eating a predominantly WFPB diet. My other strategy is to make a lot of my own food, grow my own food, and minimize anything processed. I also try to avoid anything with bioengineered ingredients.

[IMA-HelenT]

Well done @vegandan – I hope to get to a point where we grow lots of our food. I always try and cook from scratch that way I know what’s going into my food.

[Amanda Clarke]

I also eat a lot of food from my garden and cook meals from scratch. However I like Thai food and this means a lot of sauces like oyster sauce, fish sauce etc which are difficult to make myself! Do these count as ‘processed foods’ and should be avoided? Should I switch away from Thai food to other kinds of cuisine eg Indian, where I can make the sauces from scratch?

[IMA-GregT]

Fish Sauce?? I would’ve been very unhappy if it was classified as ultra processed. I love it. Fish and Salt and fermentation, I don’t see a problem there. Anyone else have a view? Please, please don’t tell me I’m wrong. Helen makes an unbelievable steak marinade with fish sauce.

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From AI –

Fish sauce is classified as a processed food. It is made by mixing fish and salt and allowing the mixture to ferment for months, a process that fundamentally alters the raw ingredients and preserves the product.

According to food classification systems such as NOVA, foods are considered processed when they are transformed from their original state by methods such as fermentation and the addition of salt or other ingredients for preservation and flavor. Fish sauce fits this description, as the fermentation process leads to chemical and structural changes in the fish, producing a liquid condiment that is distinct from its raw components.

Fish sauce is not typically considered ultra-processed unless it contains a significant number of industrial additives beyond salt and possibly minimal flavorings. The standard traditional versions—made only from fish and salt—are processed foods, not ultra-processed foods.

In summary:

• Fish sauce qualifies as processed food due to its manufacturing method involving fermentation and salt.
• It does not generally fall into the ultra-processed food category unless extensively modified with additives beyond traditional recipes.