What is/are your NOPE ingredient(s)?

nuttynanners
nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
edited November 14 in Food and Nutrition
You're strolling down an aisle at the grocery store and a new product catches your eye...

Being the avid label reader that you are, you decide to read the ingredients on the product.

What ingredient(s) would make you automatically put that item back on the shelf?

Or, alternatively, did you have a favorite food that you later discovered was loaded with a "toxic" ingredient? Did you stop eating it, or perhaps reduce your intake?
«134

Replies

  • spoonyspork
    spoonyspork Posts: 238 Member
    Stevia and all artificial sweeteners. I don't believe in any of that 'toxic' stuff, but that crap is toxic to my tongue! More and more things have started to sneak it in, too. Used to LOVE vitamin water. Then one day I bought a nice cold one, took a big gulp... and immediately up-chucked the gulp. Looked at the ingredients: stevia! Looked at the last bottle I'd gotten: no stevia! This was the 'normal' one too -- not low sugar or zero.

    Same thing almost happened with instant hot chocolate. Luckily I smelled it soon as I pored it into the cup. Went back to the store: EVERY brand now puts it in, apparently! Only one that doesn't: the publix brand with marshmallows (the one without does).

    I don't know if they're trying to make stuff even more sweet, or are trying to lower the amount of sugar, or what... but it's *gross*. This isn't a matter of learning to tolerate it either: my entire life my mom always only had diet drinks in the house. Tried and tried to learn to like it: my stomach immediately retches soon as the taste of ANY of the 'fake' sugar touches my tongue. It should never, ever be a replacement or addition to something sweet, unless it's specifically supposed to be 'diet' and marketed toward such people who need sweet but can't/won't do sugar. Drives me mad. </rant>
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Artificial sweeteners - I get horrible headaches from them.
    Transfats - hydrolyzed fat- and other terms they use to hide trans fats. We just aren't equipped to handle them.
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
    Anything which has a long list of ingredients on the label or is very high in sodium or sugar (apart from the obvious like soy sauce).
  • amw1919
    amw1919 Posts: 74 Member
    High fructose corn syrup, caramel color, brominated vegetable oil
  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    Lizzy622 wrote: »
    Artificial sweeteners - I get horrible headaches from them.
    Transfats - hydrolyzed fat- and other terms they use to hide trans fats. We just aren't equipped to handle them.

    I just learned that a TON of the foods on the shelves in the store are legally allowed to label their foods as 0g trans fat, but they still contain them!!!

    The FDA lets manufacturers get away with having up to .5g trans fat per serving in a food...it's not Trans Fat Free at all!! If you had two or more servings a day of that particular food, it would add up.

    It's ridiculous.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    Aside from the ones I medically have to avoid, any sugar alcohols that aren't erythritol. There's no way to accurately account for them, so I'd rather not guess and hope.
  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    Stevia and all artificial sweeteners. I don't believe in any of that 'toxic' stuff, but that crap is toxic to my tongue! More and more things have started to sneak it in, too. Used to LOVE vitamin water. Then one day I bought a nice cold one, took a big gulp... and immediately up-chucked the gulp. Looked at the ingredients: stevia! Looked at the last bottle I'd gotten: no stevia! This was the 'normal' one too -- not low sugar or zero.

    Same thing almost happened with instant hot chocolate. Luckily I smelled it soon as I pored it into the cup. Went back to the store: EVERY brand now puts it in, apparently! Only one that doesn't: the publix brand with marshmallows (the one without does).

    I don't know if they're trying to make stuff even more sweet, or are trying to lower the amount of sugar, or what... but it's *gross*. This isn't a matter of learning to tolerate it either: my entire life my mom always only had diet drinks in the house. Tried and tried to learn to like it: my stomach immediately retches soon as the taste of ANY of the 'fake' sugar touches my tongue. It should never, ever be a replacement or addition to something sweet, unless it's specifically supposed to be 'diet' and marketed toward such people who need sweet but can't/won't do sugar. Drives me mad. </rant>

    I've been trying to limit my intake of artificial sweeteners.

    Stevia is the new favorite because it can be marketed as natural, having come from a leaf, but it's still highly processed. While the taste has grown on me, I don't really think it should be considered a whole lot better than its counterparts...it's still highly processed.

    Plus, the body doesn't really know what to make of artificial sweeteners, from what I gather. I've heard that people who consume large amounts of artificial sweeteners actual end up eating more. Also these fake sugars can lead to insulin resistance...... hello diabetes!
  • AlisonH729
    AlisonH729 Posts: 558 Member
    I am a label reader too. Mostly for sodium, & sugar. I can't say there are particular ingredients I zone in on. But if the list is unusually long, or has too many things I can't easily pronounce, that item gets a second though.
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Beets...only beets.
  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Beets...only beets.

    Hahaha what do you have against beets? They never hurt anybody!
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
    eric_sg61 wrote: »
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat

    ^this is the big one to avoid

    I also try and minimize stuff with carrageenan and food dyes. I may also start minimizing foods with the commonly used emulsifiers too.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Stevia is from a plant. You have to research the product to find out if they are using the pure form of stevia. If so, it is a no calorie all natural sweetener. Problem is, most times it is not the pure form of stevia.

    Honestly I've been making small substitutions to my "go to foods" for the last two years. Constantly trying to switch to organic, more natural, less ingredient foods. I shy away from long ingredient lists that contain things I can't pronounce. My goal is to get around 90% whole foods or as least processed as possible. Leaving about 10% for the occasional indulgence or eating out.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Beets...only beets.

    Hahaha what do you have against beets? They never hurt anybody!

    They hurt my taste buds.
  • laols01
    laols01 Posts: 57 Member
    Nitrates/nitritees, sulfates/sulfites, high fructose corn syrup.
  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    ahamm002 wrote: »
    eric_sg61 wrote: »
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat

    ^this is the big one to avoid

    I also try and minimize stuff with carrageenan and food dyes. I may also start minimizing foods with the commonly used emulsifiers too.

    Bought something today that contained Xantham Gum. I've seen it used before, but this time I decided to research it. Turns out it's made from evaporated mold goo. Awesome....

    Supposedly the worst that Xanthan Gum can do (so far....) is cause digestive issues in some people, but I'm still kinda grossed out.
  • JPW1990
    JPW1990 Posts: 2,424 Member
    ahamm002 wrote: »
    eric_sg61 wrote: »
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat

    ^this is the big one to avoid

    I also try and minimize stuff with carrageenan and food dyes. I may also start minimizing foods with the commonly used emulsifiers too.

    Bought something today that contained Xantham Gum. I've seen it used before, but this time I decided to research it. Turns out it's made from evaporated mold goo. Awesome....

    Supposedly the worst that Xanthan Gum can do (so far....) is cause digestive issues in some people, but I'm still kinda grossed out.

    It's what molecular gastronomy chefs use to make all those foams that were so trendy for a while. The real purpose of it is just a thickener, and it's a safe substitute for people who can't use flour or corn starch to make gravy or cream soups. Cheese is mold, too, so there's that.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    ahamm002 wrote: »
    eric_sg61 wrote: »
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat

    ^this is the big one to avoid

    I also try and minimize stuff with carrageenan and food dyes. I may also start minimizing foods with the commonly used emulsifiers too.

    Bought something today that contained Xantham Gum. I've seen it used before, but this time I decided to research it. Turns out it's made from evaporated mold goo. Awesome....

    Supposedly the worst that Xanthan Gum can do (so far....) is cause digestive issues in some people, but I'm still kinda grossed out.

    Do you also avoid antibiotics?
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Beets...only beets.

    Send them to me! I LOVE beets. Problem is, so does DH, so they usually disappear from the fridge pretty quickly.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Seaweed. That stuff is nasty. Luckily sushi comes with an acceptable substitute of soy paper...
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    Anything with Gluten in it is off limits. I have Celiacs disease so I have to read every label on a new food very thoroughly before I buy it.
  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    ahamm002 wrote: »
    eric_sg61 wrote: »
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat

    ^this is the big one to avoid

    I also try and minimize stuff with carrageenan and food dyes. I may also start minimizing foods with the commonly used emulsifiers too.

    Bought something today that contained Xantham Gum. I've seen it used before, but this time I decided to research it. Turns out it's made from evaporated mold goo. Awesome....

    Supposedly the worst that Xanthan Gum can do (so far....) is cause digestive issues in some people, but I'm still kinda grossed out.

    Do you also avoid antibiotics?

    I'll take them if they are prescribed.... :)

    But I see what you're saying. I take a probiotic supplement... and I drink kombucha.... so I guess it's a similar thing... although I suppose that's why some people have problems with xanthan gum... their gut flora just can't break it down.
  • jhall260
    jhall260 Posts: 111 Member
    edited March 2015
    Things that are really high in sugar (it just does not satisfy me!) or sodium. Other then that I will get anything, though I tend to get fresh ingredients and stuff because, well they taste better!

    Ah also sugar alcohols, mostly in bars or syrups. They do not do well with my GI tract. While I like the taste of them, I do this out of respect for others :D
  • tinascar2015
    tinascar2015 Posts: 413 Member
    esjones12 wrote: »
    Stevia is from a plant. You have to research the product to find out if they are using the pure form of stevia. If so, it is a no calorie all natural sweetener. Problem is, most times it is not the pure form of stevia.

    Honestly I've been making small substitutions to my "go to foods" for the last two years. Constantly trying to switch to organic, more natural, less ingredient foods. I shy away from long ingredient lists that contain things I can't pronounce. My goal is to get around 90% whole foods or as least processed as possible. Leaving about 10% for the occasional indulgence or eating out.

    I make no apologies for using Stevia, and I think the word "toxic" gets thrown around way too casually these days. It's processed, which doesn't automatically make it toxic. I use it in a few things because I prefer to save my calories, carbs and sugars for more filling foods. Stevia doesn't give me a headache or leave an aftertaste, so I'm fine with it.

    I used to grow the stevia plant in my herb garden, and wow, all I can say is, thank goodness I can buy the processed stuff. I thought the fresh leaves tasted awful and left an aftertaste I could not shake.

  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    Hornsby wrote: »
    Beets...only beets.

    Send them to me! I LOVE beets. Problem is, so does DH, so they usually disappear from the fridge pretty quickly.

    Red beets... golden beets... chiogga beets... aw yeah. Good stuff.
  • Brolympus
    Brolympus Posts: 360 Member
    eric_sg61 wrote: »
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat
    +1

    Should be labeled "crap that your body will instantly put into fat storage". Also high fructose corn syrup.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    eric_sg61 wrote: »
    Hydrogenated/partially hydrogenated fat

    This is really it for me.

    I'm much more concerned with the calories per serving, protein and serving size.
  • nuttynanners
    nuttynanners Posts: 249 Member
    esjones12 wrote: »
    Stevia is from a plant. You have to research the product to find out if they are using the pure form of stevia. If so, it is a no calorie all natural sweetener. Problem is, most times it is not the pure form of stevia.

    Honestly I've been making small substitutions to my "go to foods" for the last two years. Constantly trying to switch to organic, more natural, less ingredient foods. I shy away from long ingredient lists that contain things I can't pronounce. My goal is to get around 90% whole foods or as least processed as possible. Leaving about 10% for the occasional indulgence or eating out.

    I make no apologies for using Stevia, and I think the word "toxic" gets thrown around way too casually these days. It's processed, which doesn't automatically make it toxic. I use it in a few things because I prefer to save my calories, carbs and sugars for more filling foods. Stevia doesn't give me a headache or leave an aftertaste, so I'm fine with it.

    I used to grow the stevia plant in my herb garden, and wow, all I can say is, thank goodness I can buy the processed stuff. I thought the fresh leaves tasted awful and left an aftertaste I could not shake.

    Wow! That's so cool that you've grown it before. :)

    I definitely don't think ALL processed foods are "toxic". I regret using the word, I forgot the stigma around it would disgruntle MFP lol.

    I should have just said "bad" or "unfavorable" and nobody would have cared.
  • tinascar2015
    tinascar2015 Posts: 413 Member
    High fructose corn syrup, nitrates, anything called a flavor (vanilla flavor, butter flavor, etc) and I always check for where salt falls in the order of ingredients. I am also very wary of packaging that screams "all natural" across the front. I read those labels very carefully because I figure if it's truly all natural, it can only be found on the outer aisles of the store.
This discussion has been closed.