Post 14: When Ingredient Labels Scare Me

When do ingredient labels scare me? Well, there are three different things that concern me when looking at ingredient labels.

The first is when you look at it, and half the things on it are just chemicals and things that you don't even know what it is they are. You shouldn't have to pull out a dictionary or search engine to know what is in your food.

The second this is when they say 'may contain'. This isn't the biggest one, but it seems like the people making the labels should be more sure of what is going into their food. It 'may' contain peanuts? Well, does it or doesn't it? This contains peanuts, sounds more reassuring. And since people with a peanut allergy will avoid it either way, why not just say with certainty. I don't want to eat something if the people making it aren't even sure of what is in it.

The third and last thing that concerns me is when things are clearly not labelled. For example, I got a wrap today. Which is what inspired this post, and it listed all these different ingredients but not chicken. It was a chicken wrap. I could see, what at least appeared to be, chicken. It was a butter chicken wrap, it listed the curry and spices, why not the chicken as well. Not having things, annoys me more than concerns me.

For example, I got a turkey sandwich and the listed ingredients were turkey, cheese, lettuce, and Mayo. I took a bite into it and it was smothered with dijon mustard. I don't like dijon mustard. I mean, really don't like it. Suddenly, a sandwich I thought would be a good and quick lunch, was practically inedible to me. Disappointing.

Sometimes, it is almost better not to read the ingredient label.

Do you read ingredient labels?

Do you ever find them concerning?