This product is not certified organic [read more]
Products bearing the USDA certified organic seal must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredient, and must be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and free of genetically engineered ingredients.
Contains food additives of higher concern
Contains 1 of EWG's top food additives of concern: BHT
Antibiotics were likely used in the production of this meat [read more]
Many animals are fed low doses of antibiotics throughout their lifespan to speed growth and prevent diseases. These non-essential uses promote antibiotic resistance, posing a serious risk to human health.
Hormones and/or growth promoters were likely used in production of meat ingredients [read more]
Hormone implants and artificial growth promoters are commonly used to speed the growth of meat animals. These practices are not allowed in Europe due to health concerns.
Contains ingredients that may contribute small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats: Mono And Diglycerides Of Fatty Acids [read more]
Both refined oils and fully hydrogenated oils contain small amounts of unhealthy artificial trans fats and contribute to the total intake of trans fat in the diet (Biofortis 2014). Artificial trans fats are generated in refined oils when they are processed at high temperatures from the crude oil into a bland, odorless, colorless oil (Greyt 1999). A 2012 study conducted by FDA scientists estimated that refined oil contributes an average 0.6 grams of trans fat a day (Doell 2012). The World Health Organization recommends limits on trans fat of less than 1 to 2 grams a day—in this context, it’s easy to see that 0.6 grams is not an insignificant contribution. In the case of fully hydrogenated oils, they should theoretically be free of trans fat, but since no hydrogenation process is 100 percent efficient, trans fats are often found in fully hydrogenated oils at low levels (FDA 2013). The United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrition Database has tested refined, partially hydrogenated and fully hydrogenated oils and found trans fats in all of them (USDA 2013).Textbooks for food scientists reveal that the mono and di-glycerides and other emulsifiers are often made from hydrogenated fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008) and at temperatures above 220°C (Sikorski and Kolakowka 2011). Emulsifiers produced from hydrogenated fats “contain measurable concentrations" of trans fats (Hasenhuettl and Hartel 2008).Unfortunately, due to lack of label disclosure and the trans fat labeling loophole, only the food scientists will ever know just how much trans fat these refined oils and emulsifiers are contributing to foods and the American diet.
Contains the non-specific ingredient "flavor" [read more]
Added "flavors" are secret and often complex mixtures of chemicals that modify and manipulate the taste and smell of food. The lack of disclosure is a public right to know issue and especially concerning to people with unusual food allergies or on restricted diets.
Contains 69% of the Institute of Medicine's daily sodium (salt) recommendations based on adequate intake [read more]
This product contains a high percentage of the Institute of Medicine's recommended adequate intake for sodium of 1500 mg a day (IOM 2005). This value is much lower than what the FDA requires be listed on food labels -- 2400 mg.Americans average 3,400 mg of sodium a day. Most of this sodium comes from processed foods where sodium is added to mask the lack of freshness by enhancing the flavor, texture or palatability and extending shelf-life (IOM 2010). Many of these uses are for the manufacturers benefit and not the consumer's health as excess sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease (IOM 2010).
Product has been classified as having high processing concerns
Natural vs. Artificial Flavors
EWG's Good Food On A Tight Budget
EWG's 2014 Shopper's Guide to Avoiding GE Food
Why GE Foods are not "Natural"
EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce
From the Package
MASHED POTATOES: REHYDRATED POTATO FLAKES AND GRANULES (WATER, POTATOES, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, CITRIC ACID, DISODIUM DIHYDROGEN PYROPHOSPHATE, BHT, SODIUM BISULFITE), WATER, CREAM, MARGARINE (SOYBEAN OIL, WATER, SALT, HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, MONOGLYCERIDES, SODIUM BENZOATE, SOY LECITHIN, MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, BETA CAROTENE [COLOR], VITAMIN D3 [CHOLECALCIFEROL], NATURAL FLAVOR), SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, SALT, NONFAT DRY MILK, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, XANTHAN GUM, GUAR GUM, FLAVORING. GRAVY: WATER, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: SALT, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, FLAVORINGS, CARAMEL COLOR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, WHEY, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, SUGAR, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA, VEGETABLE JUICE CONCENTRATES (CELERY, CARROT, ONION AND LEEK), DISODIUM INOSINATE & DISODIUM GUANYLATE, XANTHAN GUM, PROPYLENE GLYCOL. SALISBURY STEAK PATTY: MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN, WATER, PORK, BEEF, BREADER (ENRICHED BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR [BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], DURUM FLOUR, LEAVENING [SODIUM BICARBONATE, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE], YEAST), TEXTURED VEGETABLE PROTEIN (SOY FLOUR, CARAMEL COLOR), SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, LESS THAN 2% OF: DRIED ONION, SALT, FLAVORINGS, CARAMEL COLOR, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATES, DEXTROSE, POTASSIUM SALT, SOY LECITHIN, CITRIC ACID. CINNAMON APPLE DESSERT: WATER, APPLES (CITRIC ACID AND ASCORBIC ACID TO RETAIN COLOR), 2% OR LESS OF: SUGAR, BROWN SUGAR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, NATURAL FLAVOR, ACETYLATED MONOGLYCERIDES, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SALT, CINNAMON, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ETHANOL, SPICE, LEMON OIL. CORN: CORN, WATER, SALT, SUGAR.
