“All natural!”
“Organic!”
“Fat-free!”
“Gluten-free!”
These greet Pinoy shoppers as they sail the aisles of grocery stores.
But do we know what they actually mean?
In this post, we reveal what those scientific-sounding claims mean and help Filipino consumers make informed decisions on what they place inside their grocery carts and baskets.
1) “New and improved formula”
This phrase means that the old product has been updated and made even better. Maybe new research has come to light that can potentially impact a product for the better. It has been integrated into the new version, making for a better product than the original.
So, what has changed?
This is what consumers should try to find out.
Sometimes, the changes aren’t really significant and won’t meaningfully impact the product. Other times, “new and improved formula,” just means the formulation has been altered to reduce costs or increase shelf-life. In this case, it could impact the actual taste of the product, not necessarily for the better.
2) "Low-fat" or "fat-free"
Food products with these labels have been positioned to appeal to the health-conscious consumer. As people on weight loss plans eschew “fat” in their diets, this means that these products are considered the healthier choice.
But being “low-fat” or “fat-free” doesn’t automatically mean “healthy.” You have to check what other ingredients are there. Sometimes, sugar and other food additives are used to bolster flavor or make up for the lack of fat. In the end, these other ingredients may not be very good for your health.
3) "Natural" or "organic"
The dictum is that the less processed the food, the better it is. So people naturally gravitate to food products labeled “natural” or “organic.”
These two words are used interchangeably, but there are differences between them. “Natural” refers to food that has been minimally processed and doesn’t contain artificial preservatives.
“Organic” food is those grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, like pesticides and fertilizers.
The thing is that we’ve defined these words very broadly. And what does “artificial” mean in the first place?
If we want to be sure about the quality of the food we put inside our bodies, we need to know the exact process of making it. What goes into it?
But people rarely have the time, so one way of ascertaining the integrity of your food is to look for seals of approval from the government or a reputable organization.
4) "No added sugars"
Sugar has long been vilified as the culprit for the many health conditions ailing Pinoys. So when folks see “No added sugars,” they immediately gravitate towards it.
On the whole, food products with “no added sugars” indeed tend to be healthier than those with added sugars. You just have to be sure how “sugar” is defined in this case or what sweeteners have been used instead. Because if the alternatives used are just as bad as sugar or are bad in some other way, then that just offsets the purported health benefits.
(You should also remember that although sugar was not added, many unprocessed foods are high in naturally-occurring sugars. Fruits are an example.)
5) "Fortified with vitamins and minerals"
This means that specific vitamins and minerals have been added to the product.
For example, in the 1930s and 40s, the American government mandated fortifying commonly consumed food items with vitamins and minerals to bolster the health and nutritional assets of their population. In the Philippines, through R.A. 8172, the government mandated putting iodine in commercial salt (hence iodized salt,), to alleviate iodine deficiency among Filipinos.
Companies also add their food products with various vitamins and minerals to add nutritional value to their product offerings.
6) "Low-calorie"
Low-calorie options are often seen as beneficial for people wishing to lose weight. Compared to similar products, the low-calorie option is beneficial.
But fewer calories are not the end all and be all of weight management–not to mention, good health. You need to look at the overall nutritional value of the food you’re buying. Some “low-calorie” options can be highly processed foods. So they can be heavy on artificial ingredients and additives despite being light on the calorie count.
7) "Made with real fruit"
This means that real fruit is used in the product.
However, the claim does not say that it is just all, 100% fruit. So it’s often the case that “Made with real fruit” items will also contain other components like sugar and other additives and preservatives.
To determine what you’re buying, look closer at the list of ingredients to see their proportions or percentages vis-à-vis the whole.
8) "Gluten-free"
Gluten is a class of proteins in grains like wheat and barley. Food like bread, pasta, cereal, soups, sauces, and dressings, consequently, contain it.
Folks with celiac disease negatively respond to gluten because it triggers their immune systems to attack organs and tissues.
So “gluten-free” items have undergone the process of cleaning or stripping the protein from grains.
This allows people with gluten sensitivities to enjoy many food items they could not otherwise have. But “gluten-free” does not automatically mean healthy. Besides being highly processed, food additives can be used to make up for the loss of gluten. So you have to consider these factors when buying.
Another use for the “gluten-free” label is to mark those food items that are naturally gluten-free (eg. corn, fruits, vegetables, eggs, beans, soy, etc.) So in this case, the product hasn’t gone through processing because they don’t contain gluten in the first place.
9) "With antioxidants"
Antioxidants help protect the body from cell and tissue damage potentially caused by free radicals. These free radicals, unstable metabolic byproducts, can cause harm when there are too many of them in the body. Antioxidants neutralize them by making free radicals more stable.
Lots of food naturally contain antioxidants, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, berries, spices, and even dark chocolate.
Having the label “with antioxidants” for these foods is a description of what they naturally contain. It doesn’t mean antioxidants were added or integrated into the food because they already have antioxidants in the first place.
10) "Made with Natural Ingredients"
This means the ingredients for a food product have not been processed (or processed only minimally).
But like “Made with Real Fruit,” it doesn’t claim that it’s wholly made up only of natural ingredients. So having this on the label does not mean it’s free from preservatives, additives, or artificial ingredients. Many of the products, in fact, contain these and may have synthetic compounds like coloring or flavoring.
So, those are some standard terms used in food packaging. As a consumer, you now have a better idea of what these labels say and are in a better position to make informed choices for you and your loved ones.
BloodWorks Lab is your family’s partner for health and well-being.
We are your one-stop shop for all your blood test needs.
BloodWorks offers different check-up packages—including the Weight Management Package, which is ideal for those planning to go on a weight loss journey, and the Senior Citizen’s Check-up, specifically geared to the older members of the family.
BloodWorks Lab is also proud to be the first in the country to offer the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.
Book your appointment today.
Our branches are in Alabang, Katipunan, and Cebu.