Friday, February 13, 2009

Artificial colors and flavors? Ew.

You know, I've often wondered why artificial colors and flavors are illegal, but then I realized, by wondering, that I'd answered my own question.

What ARE they, anyway?

You don't know. I don't know. And that's why we can't eat them, because we have to know what a food is in order to know if it's legal or not. And let's face it -- artificial coloring and flavors are not food. We only eat food on the SCD. Perhaps this should be our slogan:

The SCD: We eat food!

In case you were wondering what prompted this post, well, let me tell you. I spoke with an acquaintance of mine recently who used to work at a large food manufacturing company. One of the items they produced was a macaroni and cheese-type recipe.

The recipe called for two parts cheese, one part yellow food color.

No, that's not a typo.

So, for example, a batch would include 500 pounds of cheese...and 250 POUNDS of powdered yellow food color.

The thing of it was, said my acquaintance, is that the food color cost just as much as the cheese! It was EXPENSIVE!

You really wonder what's in our food supply, don't you?

And people think we SCDers are the crazy ones...

2 comments:

Karen said...

Hi Susan,

Just found your blog through your post on the Gluten Free Goddess.

Love your blog.

I too am gluten free and I have been cooking from scratch for about 10 years. It is possible even if you work full time...which I do not at the moment. I have been gluten-free for two years and struggling with headaches and iron deficiancy anemia since age 12. Found out I had hidden food allergies including gluten in 2006. Have been gluten free ever since. I avoided my other allergies for 2 years and am now reintroducing foods. Some work, some don't. Had ginger the other day and have been bloated and headachy every since. I am also wondering about oats, even though I never tested positive for them.

Anyway, good luck. I will be reading you.

Karen, herself
www.herselfgluten-free.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Hi Karen!

I'm so, SO glad to see someone else say, "Even if you work full time, you can do this." I've been doing it now for over a year, and I really don't feel like it's an imposition or anything. It's just what we do!

I'm glad you are doing well. Thanks for stopping by!

Susan