Packaging of the product
By Scarrlet
@Scarrlet (168)
Ukraine
July 24, 2008 4:09pm CST
Do you always read the ingredients of food/hygiene products that you buy? Is it our own responsibility to take care of it or should we choose by the highlighted titles that packaging has on front? Do you care about the number of chemicals and natural ingredients? I personally take my time to read the listings on the package trying to figure out if there are harmful ingredients. And this is my criteria for choosing the product. What about you?
2 people like this
4 responses
@LadyStrawberry (173)
• Slovenia
25 Jul 08
Yeah, I always read... I try to avoid chemically iffy things, additives, food colorings, etc. as I was allergic to food additives as a kid...
So, no Cola, no iffy pates, no weird sausages for me...since I was a kid.. It basically really limited food I could eat, but then again, it was easier for the whole family to start living more healthy when also Dad read it was bad for his rheumatism.. (He cured his rheumatism with healthy living & exercise/walks!!) So I definitely think it's worth it!! :)
I must admit that sometimes I 'just buy' something too, if I'm in a hurry, &/or terribly hungry lol.. maybe a little bar of chocolate or icecream or such.. But I try to limit that to 'very occasionally'.. It is too bad healthy food may sometimes cost more. IMO UNhealthy food should be taxed & WAAAY more expensive than healthy food, because that is the true cost of it: doctors, hospitals, medications...!! It costs everyone more money to eat unhealthy!! :)
1 person likes this
@LadyStrawberry (173)
• Slovenia
25 Jul 08
Well, basically you just stay away from everything iffy!! :)
That leaves you basically with 'whole foods' to buy - hopefully organic, if you can! Vegetables, nuts, flour, rice...
I stay away from pre-prepared food most of the time.. (because it's too time-consuming to check, yeah!! & if I don't know what it is or can't pronounce it, it probably isn't good for my health anyway!!:))
Only very rarely are the 'weird-sounding' things or 'E's' really good for you, or sorta harmless.. (There are books & websites about this, warning of the most problematic things, or stating what is okay..) I do get some stuff in a health food store, but even some things there are iffy... so I try to get as 'whole' & 'unprocessed' as possible..
We also have a garden, so we grow & freeze & pickle & make a lot of stuff ourselves.. even icecream! :) You can cook & freeze your own 'quick meals' instead of buying more expensive quickie meals!
I am now looking even into making my own chocolate!! lol
@Scarrlet (168)
• Ukraine
25 Jul 08
You are a very conscious consumer! ))) i wish i could have more energy to act like you do. and the fact that you already have proofs of a positive influence of the healthy food explains a lot. It is truly impossible to read everything and buy only healthier products all the time, but indeed we should think in long-run terms. I totally agree with you!
1 person likes this
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
24 Jul 08
Hi Scarrlet
I try to look at labels but it's hard when you have got kids with you that don't really want to be there. My problem is also that healthier food is always more expensive and I have no choice but to opt for a less healthier option. I wish they would just label with simple labels like 'this food is no good for you' that would sure help!!
1 person likes this
@Scarrlet (168)
• Ukraine
25 Jul 08
Good point. I think that majority of us would pay more attention to what we eat if there were no concerns about finances,family, work and so on. But i'm glad that you are still trying, and kids are a big stimuli for that. And the way how all the information is written is whole another issue: majority of people can just figure out from the air what do certain terms mean.
@smilyn (2967)
• United States
25 Jul 08
I always read the ingredients of the food product before buying it. With the introduction of ready to eat foods, and other fast food items, nowadays the super markets are flooded with these food items. I know that no packed food would be devoid of a chemical. They have to add chemical to preserve the food. But there are also few other food products that have more chemical ingredients. So I always check out the ingredients label. If the product is said to have more oil,fat or any chemical I avoid buying it. I also check for the date of expiry. Only if I'm satisfied, I buy them . Otherwise I don't even give a try, even if it tempts me. Above everything the health of my family matters more to me..
@Scarrlet (168)
• Ukraine
26 Jul 08
That's a right attitude you have. Your are being confident in this question, and i must say you are very lucky to be able to follow your attitude in daily life. Nothing is more important in this life than our own health, and health of those whom we love. That's why we have to take responsibility into our hands!
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
25 Jul 08
Yes, I do read ingredients of food items on its packets. I also check the expirty date before buying it. Details of the ingredients help us to buy a product. I am not very particular about the chemicals used, because in some of the products, I find, it cannot be made without chemicals. The packed food products cannot be produced without adding some chemicals so as to preserve them. It is better to take home cooked products, if possible.
Good discussion.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
25 Jul 08
You are most welcome!!
I share and endorse your views that if need to be bit alert and cautious about the chemicals.
I share and endorse your views that if need to be bit alert and cautious about the chemicals.@Scarrlet (168)
• Ukraine
25 Jul 08
I also agree that we need some of the chemicals in our products too. otherwise we would have to grow lots of things by ourselves ))) because many of them cannot be stored for longer time. That's why the topic is so complicated: it is hard for average consumer to distinguish which ingredients are a part of advanced technology, and which are used because of careless unprofessionals. Glad to hear your response ))
