INGREDIENT LABELS TELL ONLY PART OF THE STORY

Two very different products can have identical ingredient labels, yet one can be nutritionally far superior to the other.

One reason for this is that although ingredients are supposed to be listed in order of relative abundance, the list can be misleading. Let's say a pet food formula has 25% each of nutrient poor white rice, tapioca, sugar, and then a quality meat of some sort. The manufacturer can put these in any order they feel will create the most market appeal. You can bet they will not put sugar first, but rather meat. They can then claim that their food's "first ingredient is meat." As a consumer you would probably assume that meat is the majority and the other ingredients just incidental.

Another reason the best pet food cannot be determined by the ingredient listing is that regulations only permit standard descriptions of each ingredient. Thus, a manufacturer who is trying to create the best pet food using high quality, nutritionally rich ingredients cannot describe these efforts on the label by being specific. For example, mineral rich sea salt must be named just "salt," giving the impression that it is the same as refined and additive laden commercial table salt.

The following chart demonstrates how a nutritionally superior food may cost a manufacturer 32 times more than what another manufacturer pays to produce an apparently identical product. Since ingredients must be listed using required terminology, the unique quality that may be present is hidden from the consumer.

To find the best pet food, read the company's literature carefully. Additionally you may have to do an Internet search since regulators will not permit companies to describe the health benefits of their ingredients or products. This prohibition is based upon the untenable argument that any mention of health would make the food a drug subject to hundred million dollar FDA testing. You can get around this absurd restriction by typing into your browser: health benefits of ____________(ingredient in question).

But don't get too caught up in ingredients. Remember that you should never rely on one packaged food meal after meal regardless of its ingredient portfolio.

Thought for the day: Losing illusions is the greatest step toward wisdom.

Word for the day: preservative - adjective: a natural or synthetic food additive that works to prevent food decomposition, microbial growth, and fat oxidation. In processed packaged foods that have shelf life, such preservation is critical. There are natural options, but even the synthetic ones are better than none. Be wary of the "no preservatives" marketing slogan.