I have been sitting pondering…this plastic crisis which has caused me to think about much and raised many questions for me…I was always the kid who said why? but why?
I subscribe to a few many publications and they all have the effect of leaving me with more questions than answers…
I also like joining the dots…
I try to eat clean and avoid processed foods with chemicals however even before this as a young person I had this aversion to anything processed it is inbuilt in me…Just how I am wired…my daughter as a child would have loved a Mister Frosty this game which made pretty blue iced drinks…my reply to pleas were if it colours your tongue like that what on earth is it doing to your insides…her pleas fell on deaf ears I would buy anything but not that…
Since then it has been re-released a few times as parents became more aware of e- numbers and the effect it had on the little darlings…
Which brings me to today...A change from plastic(for now)…rest assured I haven’t finished with plastic I will be back very soon.
For a long time, I have had concerns over food hygiene in factories and recently I have been shocked at the amount of product recalls and product withdrawals…
The food recalls are usually issued over allergy fears, either because a food contains something it shouldn’t or because the labelling is incorrect, therefore putting those with allergies or intolerances at risk.
Other reasons may be due to contamination or fears over foreign objects being in the food such as metal or plastic.
Examples:
Alesto Raw Fruit & Nut Bar Cacao & Orange
A warning was issued as the fruit bars contain sulphur dioxide not mentioned on the label. This could be dangerous for those with a sensitivity to sulphur dioxide or sulphites.
Sliced Pepperoni… was found to contain E. coli O157 which can cause severe illness including vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea.
Frozen Hash Browns
The food product is being recalled as it may contain pieces of white plastic making it unsafe to eat.
Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast Toppers and Southern Fried Chicken Popsters because of the presence of salmonella
Chicken Satay with Sweet Chilli Sauce because of undeclared allergens…fish and
peanuts not mentioned on the labels.
Sainsbury’s recalls by Sainsbury’s semi-skimmed UHT milk because of possible microbiological contamination.
This problem is worldwide…Consumers everywhere need to be alert…Worldwide food
is being produced and put on the shelves which are dangerous to our health…
Either by mislabelling (allergies), microbiological contamination, Salmonella, white plastic, E. coli O157…Listeria…
I have just scratched the surface here but just by these few and trust me there is so much more…
Incorrect labelling can cause death if an allergy is that severe or at the very least
unpleasant symptoms.
E.coli, Salmonella and Listeria can cause death or again very unpleasant symptoms…
White plastic…only last week I gave you the figures for the number of plastic particles
which recent studies have found in water 83% of tap water and 93% of bottled waters
have plastic particles…
That is scary!
Couple that with the mislabelling whether accidental or deliberate and from what I am
discovering about the food industry I am guessing it is not all accidental…
These industries have to be responsible and start showing a far higher level of care
than they currently show to us …The Consumer!
Please be aware of where your food comes from and if it is not clear on the label put it back…
Where possible know the origin of your food and buy local… support local businesses…
Buy food which is in season…generally, food which is forced which means less taste or
expensive and has a big carbon footprint.
Grow your own where possible even if you only have a window box or a few pots …are
there community gardens in your area or allotments…?
If you work full or part-time and time is of the essence then plan and cook a large pot of chill or spag bol and freeze some portions, invest in a
slow cooker or Instant Pot…
We all have to start thinking and planning…
Until next time be well and stay safe…
About Carol Taylor:
Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.
I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.
Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.
Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!
Thank you once again for reading this post I hope you all have a fabulous week and stay safe these are troubling times xx
Retired? No one told me! 
Pingback: CarolCooks2…weekly roundup 16th August -22nd August 2020…Labels, Recipes, Health(Sugar), Whimsy, and Beluga Whales… | Retired? No one told me!
Pingback: CarolCooks2…weekly roundup 16th August -22nd August 2020…Labels, Recipes, Health(Sugar), Whimsy, and Beluga Whales… | Retired? No one told me!
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – 16th -22nd October – | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
I was trying to read the label on a jar this morning in the supermarket to see what was in it and apart from not having the time to stand there deciphering every E number and ingredient, I needed two pairs of glasses to read the small print and even then had a problem. We don’t know what we are eating and that is why we need to limit the amount of industrial food we eat to a minimum.. Terrific post and an important issue…hugs xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sally.. We don’t know what we are eating.. Labels need to be easier to read and much simpler
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or as you say we need to be more aware and limit or processed foods xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is scary stuff, Carol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More than scary, Norah it is horrifying 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
that is scary when I think about it. I try to buy as much as I can that is organic, but even then there is a wide range of what is considered organic, so you never completely know what is in or on your produce…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely and you are correct we really don’t know, Jim…it scares me as it can only get worse not all mislabelling is picked up …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got used to reading labels when I went vegan, and thankfully the ingredients I am trying to avoid are usually clearly labeled (eggs, dairy, meat). But I can’t imagine how scary it must be for people with food allergies…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very scary, Jim as there is so much mis-labelling …
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate you making us aware of it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you allow me to add a few points, dear Carol.
First of “non-dairy” usually mean that the product does not contain lactose. It might contain casein, though, which causes pancreas inflammation in some cases (mine, for example). It is clear mislabeling, since casein is also part of being dairy.
Secondly, I am by far not the only person in the world allergic to canola oil, yet many packaged products, while sometimes mentioning soy or sesame oil, neglect to mention canola oil. Case in point: Planters so-called “dry roasted” peanuts are roasted in canola oil, rather than dry-roasted.
Thirdly, food coloring, especially red and yellow, is detrimental to people with certain learning and emotional disorders, such as ADD / ADHD, Anxiety and Depression disorders, as well as conduct disorders.
You have raised a very important issue, darling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The tip of the iceberg, Dolly…Thank you for the info 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very welcome, darling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sobering list, Carol…food that has been heavily processed for the purpose of making it “easy” to prepare, and in many cases, will make you sick as well…thanks for sharing this important information…this weekend I made FIVE fresh soups, using all natural ingredients, no added “things” at all…carrot ginger, broccoli spinach, coconut lentil curry, tomato basil and a Pistou, filled with so many vegetables…minimal packaged ingredients!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its just the tip of the iceberg, John and I am sure the cause of many health/mental issues which could be avoided. What a deliciously productive weekend there is nothing better than a bowl of tasty homemade soup… Pistou is a new one for me will have to look it up 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carol, it’s a French vegetable soup…garlic, onion, fennel, zucchini, beans, green beans, tomato if you want, I added a bit of fresh cable…then you make a garlic/basil/olive oil sauce to drizzle over it…you can sprinkle parmesan cheese as well if you want!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, John that sounds delicious will have to make that.. Yummy
LikeLike
Yes, it is good to remain wary, and to shop for real foods and not processed as much as possible. That doesn’t solve it, of course, but it does cut down a little bit on possible cross-contamination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Highly processed, convenience foods will always bring problems but yes we should always be wary…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luckily I don’t have known food allergies. I’d say 95 per cent of the food I buy is unprocessed and Australian, but I remain cautious and wary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is good to remain wary.. I don’t have any known allergies either… But good that you buy Australian.. It all helps 🙏😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
sometimes, when things around me are dark, i think it is on purpose. Why afterall would this kind of stuff happen over and over (food recalls), Then I realize we’ve pushed the planet to nearly the edge spreading resources very thin.
Great piece Carol!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Scott that means a lot to me…I also agree things have gone too far and we need to push back and take a step back 🙂
LikeLike
scary is right!
LikeLiked by 1 person