fake food

It is really quite sad that food manufacturers add ingredients to food products that dilute the components and cut the bottom line cost.  The greatest example of this is what China has done with the addition on melamine, which has turned out to be deadly.  However, have you ever wondered what American companies might do to their products?  USA Today investigated and found some interesting things.

It is called “economic alteration”.  It is the process by which something similar is added to the product to extend the use of the primary ingredient without altering the product too much.  And while the FDA is required to monitor this process, and stop it from happening, it has been put aside by more pressing food safety issues.

Fish seems to be the most commonly faked food.  Examples are selling farm raised salmon as wild salmon or exchanging talapia for red snapper.  And don’t think this is just happening in large scale canneries, researchers found the fraud happening in sushi restaurants as well as super markets.

Olive oil seems to be another counterfeit product.  Some off brand products contained upwards of 90% soybean oil instead.  This has become such a problem that Connecticut and California are enacting laws that prevent this kind of manipulation.

The worst of offenders… honey.  Manufacturers have been known to add high fructose corn syrup to honey to extend its usage.  This is quite sad as honey is often marketed as a healthy sugar alternative.  But, to have it diluted down with the least healthy sugar substitute should be criminal.

Maple syrup and honey are other products that undergo economic alteration, although those have been commonly known for a while.  That is why you are able to buy ‘real” products versus ‘artificial’ products.  This is one area where the labeling is felt to be accurate.

One reason this causes such concern is because, at least, in the environmental food movement, people are encouraged to eat whole foods, instead of processed foods.  But olive oil, fish and honey are part of the whole food movement.  So, when you eat these items thinking you are doing a good thing for your body and your environment, it is quite unnerving to find out that you have done the exact opposite.  

The best recommendation is always one thing: farmer’s markets.  And, if that isn’t possible, try to buy the highest grade product from reputable manufacturers with clear, concise labels.