Hi All-
I just made a big mistake of a purchase at Trader Joes yesterday and I'm thinking there's probably other stories out there. I hope you all will share your stories of bad purchases so we can learn from each other's mistakes.
When I shop at Trader Joes I generally get myself a little treat because we don't live near the store and I like to have a snack for the long drive home. (I find that allowing myself the one treat actually helps me do a better job of avoiding all the potentially less healthy and less economical foods I'm liable to buy while I'm there)
So I thought I wasn't being too bad to my body or my wallet by picking out the Wasabi Roasted Seaweed Snack (On SALE for Only $.99!!!). I looked at the ingredients briefly and saw the canola oil listed. Now somewhere in the recesses of my brain I knew canola oil was bad and probably gmo but the part of me that wanted a tasty snack thought:
"It's in a product that has seaweed in it (thinking of all the wonders I've heard about iodine lately) for crying out loud and this is Trader Joes - how bad could it be?"
So as I'm driving home and snacking, I'm starting to feel a bit off (stomach a bit grumbly) and I'm noticing that there's a sweetness to this seaweed and thinking it must have hidden sugars in it. So I look at the package again (yes, I admit it - I was driving!) to see that it also contains maltodextrin and modified cornstarch. Now I have no idea what maltodextrin is but I could guess that it's one of those fake names for msg and of course the cornstarch is red flag GMO. I (stupidly) allow myself a few more tasty morsels and now I'm getting a headache. Instantly memories of the last time I had a few sips of Diet Coke come back to me (we're talking decades ago but I remember it like it was yesterday - My son's car had crapped out - Yes, you do need to make sure it has oil and pay attention to those little red lights - and a kind man had offered me a drink on a hot day - Two sips and an instant headache)
That was it - I was either going to trash the stuff (what a waste, I hate to see good food go to waste (but wait, it isn't good food now is it!) or pass it off at the office. I admit it sounds bad to pass my headache around but I see what crap those people put into their bodies anyhow - they may as well get it for free from me) Ok, I guess now that I've thoroughly thought that out I guess I will just throw the crap out!
Well, I hope I didn't bore you all but I had fun getting that off my chest and figured there must be others with similar stories. Hope you all will share.
Wendy
Oh yea, and I forgot to mention the package has a nifty little "V" (I assume for vegan) on it and "g*" (Oh boy, it's gluten free, it must be healthy!)
On Canola Oil:
http://www.draxe.com/canola-oil-gm/
On Maltodextrin:
This website claims it's a "real food" but it includes the fact that it could be made from corn so I think it's a safe bet that it's gmo.
http://www.fitsugar.com/What-Maltodextrin-293287
This webpage includes maltodextrin in a list of ingredients that likely contain msg:
http://copingwithmsg.blogspot.com/2011/04/names-and-addresses-of-ingredients-that.html
We just had a Trader Joe's go in two short blocks from us this last year and to be honest, I never go there. Seems to me Trader Joe's just got too big too fast and something doesn't sit right with me about that. I've looked at some of the packages that are advertised as local and organic and then read in the fine print that it's a product of Korea or China. Another thing I've noticed is that all the produce that isn't falsely labeled seems to come from some plant out in Monrovia, California. Sounds like factory farming to me. Could just be me, but the little voice in my head sends up red flags when it comes to Trader Joe's and Wholefoods. While some of their products may be free from GMO's and pesticides I still have a sinking suspicion that these places are not on the up and up when it comes to putting the customers before profit. So we bring our dollars to the outstanding local coop where we can buy things in bulk instead.
Funny how quickly your system reacted to those ingredients . . . back to the garden . . .
Oh, forgot to mention, we ran out of organic grade B maple syrup one day and picked up some of the Trader Joe's brand only to be severely disappointed. The stuff tasted awful, like a watered down, artificially sweetened version of what we usually buy in bulk from the coop. And that's another thing, everything from Trader Joe's is Trader Joe's brand and in our experience it's just not very high quality or trustworthy, not to mention their organic selection is pretty limited, if it's even organic at all.
The USDA owns the "organic" name. Therefore, what passes as organic is totally up to the USDA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B8T3QBJvLy0#!
Thanks Noa, Sounds like more 1984 bs. I guess I need to look for non-organic now to find healthy food.
Hey Fransis,
Yes, I still like Trader Joes as the prices are so much better but you do have to watch out because many of their products contain canola oil. The local food coops and health food stores are still the best though - I was in a great coop in Greenfield, MA today. None of the chain stores will ever have that hippy feel!
but not in packaging!!! haha! remember several years ago,the organic growers tried to corner the gmo's .They tried to force them to label anything gmo, as it should be. But monsanto turned it on them, and it ended up the other way around1 The organic farmers got a strict labeling system. The laws for organic produce became stricter. And prices went up,,just what monsanto wanted ! But,,I trust the produce much more, other than the fact that it still has to breathe contaminated air, and the water it is fed can be questionable. Packaged products boggle my mind, like Wendy said, there are so many clever names for mutant msg alone! All you can trust are the most basic foods,crackers,etc.
I really have to wonder here in china. They sell american chips like Lays,,,but the flavors are freaky, like lobster parmesan, or chicken flavor,,,haha! I had a small collection of photos from my first trip here, the flavors were so funny!
Where I am now, I am surrounded by huge lakes,,,so most of the local food comes from there. Crawfish, fish, crabs, and lotus flower. They eat every part of the lotus plant, but it grows alongside the highways, which run between the lakes. It is hard not to buy a dish that doesn't have some part of the lotus plant in it. I met a man from norway here,whose friend was the scientist who tests all the lakes, and the readings are so bad, I can't believe these people are still alive, or can function with all the brain damage they should have! This raises a question ! How is it that they survive eating this food that is so obviously poisoned? One of the answers might be,,,,because they don't know! Every time I refuse food here, which is almost every day,,,I end up having to explain why! Don't you like fish? Of course I do,,,I love fish! But, did you know?>>>>>> they look at me like i'm crazy! haha! There are so many people here,it is hard to fathom ,,,what would they eat if they didn't have all this local food?
did you know there are more chickens in the world than there are people? I found this on a website of "useless information". But I have often wondered here,,,how many chickens are eaten every day. I taught at a school with 8000 students. If they all have chicken for lunch,,,how many chickens did it take just to feed them,,,one meal,,,one day? It's mind boggling,,,and there were a hundred schools like that,,,just in that small city of 1.5 million. Here there are 10 million ! and more universities than any city in the world! There are hundreds of people cooking food on the street every night,,,and they are lined up in front of strings of restaurants,,haha! I have thought about this so much,,I can't stand food anymore! the produce in the supermarkets is not good here,,and is very expensive,,,,but the street people haul in fresh produce every day,,,tons of it,,and it is sold out every night....this is what I live on at home here, and then I eat in some restaurants when I have to.
When I had cancer, I almost stopped eating altogether....Learning to fast, practicing once a week, i found that,,,I lost the desire for a lot of foods. When I tried them again,,they didn't taste "real". I wish I could say that that sensation stuck with me,, but my time over here has diminished that virtue. I have had to eat what I could get,,,and can tell I am somewhat polluted again.
Trader Joes has been around a long time,,my friends from Calif. used to rave about it,,,,so,,when they opened in santa fe,NM, it was a big deal. I was never impressed by them,,,other than their really low prices on rice dream. I used to buy a case when I visited santa fe,,I used it to mix protein drinks in the morning....Then,,,like wholefoods, they introduced their own brand,,which tasted awful,,then they drive up the price of the better brand to make theirs look good....I know many people that stopped shopping at both of those chains because of this.
I used to grow my own greens,,and make a "green" drink at night for dinner,,,with some garlic bread or something,,just to satisfy the urge to chew my food. I never felt better than those few years, and have to say, it is what I miss most about america. That basic recipe,,one banana,one apple, mixed greens,,and whatever else you happen to have that day in the blender will take care of your body real good,,,,and you'll feel much better in the morning, not having used all your energy to break down all that food...Even 3 times a week makes a huge difference. Honestly,,it is really the biggest reason I want to return to the states now....
I believe that the statement we have all heard so often, about collapsing the system by not supporting it,,,apply to our diets as well. I don't think we need half of the food we eat in an average day. Once you have fasted, and broken the cycle of eating to satisfy hunger pains, you realize how little it actually takes for the body to function,,,and it functions better when it's not "backlogged" haha! ...........
Hi guys,
At work we have a health iinitiative program going. Recently an exAustralian rules footballer, good player too, came in to talk about nutrition. He was good and made sense but he was selling a product, herbalife.....if they are legit they probably do provide what we all search for. They actually commision their own crops with strict rules...trying to provide the most natural and "clean" ingredients.....the catch......easy 2 or 3 hundred per person, per week.....
We don't have trader Joe but I think aldi also owns him, we have aldi.....seems to have the same stuff in its own brand, no choices, pack your own groceries and is cheaper,
Hi Tscout-
I bet the freshly grown "contaminated" food in China is still better for you than the years old packaged stuff we get in America. Yes, why the heck was I thinking something that came in a package would be a "treat"? Thanks for that reminder. One of these times when I have some vacation days, I'll have to try a fast.
Nearly all corn and soy products are GMO. And it's a sure bet that packaged food like chips (and even some of those crackers that Todd likes) are made from GMO grains.
I wonder the same thing as you, Todd. How are we all still alive when we're being bombarded with toxins on every conceivable front? I think living things are more resilient than we realize.
Keep spreading the word. As more people get a clue, they'll speak with their wallets, and unhealthy trends will eventually give way to those that support life.
That's what most people want for themselves and their families. Share what you know.
Herbalife has been around since i was a kid,,,at least the aloe product. But,,,it sounds really expensive there. Aloe and fasting has helped many people transform their bodies, it's a heck of a cleanser, and heals internally ,just as it heals burns so well on our skin. But some people can't take it,,their body doesn't like it. I am one of those. You can buy high quality organically grown aloe juice in most "health food" stores now. I was intent on using it, but my body hates it. I have seen some friends in the past really transform themselves with it though.The organic aloe business started big time over 10 years ago here,,,,I saw a show highlighting all these farms that sprung up in Mexico. Personally,I have tried other cleansers that work very well,,,and are much cheaper! Every continent has it's own native plant that is a great cleanser,,,and if that doesn't work for you,,,combine a few of them and drink the tea,,,,search Jason winters and read his story. His tea saved his life,,,and many others,,,and is much cheaper,,,
Hey wendy,,,haha! You could be right about the food here, but I still wish I knew where the local produce was coming from, and if they are using pesticides on it. There is plenty of packaged food here too! there are aisles with nothing but shrink-wrapped chicken parts,,,each one marinated in some spices and sauce, and I'm sure,, some kind of preservatives. The students' parents buy them for them for snacks in school. The good thing is,,the legs, wings, etc. are so small here,,,in america, people would laugh at the size of them...but,,,they are satisfied with a small portion of meat, a good thing...
I wish I had photographed more of the flavors here Noa,,it is truly entertaining to read the labels that are in english..I also have a couple of programs on my phone that will translate chinese by pointing the camera at the label,,,,those are even funnier! Last year,,,I wouldn't touch this stuff,,,but this year I have tried some of the chips, a little bag once a week,,,,and I have to admit,,,,the lobster parmesan lays are really something!! The cucumber woulld take second place in my taste buds....The chinese chips are awful,,,
I think the biggest problem here is soda,,,,it is spreading big time,,,,liquid candy, and nothing is worse than filling your bloodstream with that garbage. We might be able to build immunities to alot of the things we are slammed with on a daily basis,,,but, unless you are a full time athlete,,I don't think you can sweat enough to get that garbage out of your blood. Bon Appetit !!!
Hey Todd,
A guy I work with leaves for a month holiday to China on Friday. He is an environmental scientist and I mentioned your comments. If he has anything interesting to say when he gets back I will let you know...