Ingredient Deciphering

[kari]

This is from a weight watchers smoothie mix that I loooove. I've noticed the label hasn't been updated for the new allergen laws since it obviously contains milk and doesn't have that whole bold 'contains milk' thing under the ingredients. I'm new to this, so I still can't decipher the funny ingredients other than the obvious and have been eating some pretty lame gluten free labeled food and holding off on this smoothie until the company would give me an answer - but they've been ignoring me! here's the list of ingredients:

calcium caseinate

nonfat milk

maltodextrin

lofat cocoa processed with alkali

whey protein concentrate

cellulose

natural and artificial flavor

fructose

soy lecithin

aspartame

calcium phosphate

guar gum

calcium carbonate

xanthan gum

salt

ascorbic acid

ferrous fumarate

alpha tocopherol

acetate

niacinamide

zinc oxide

manganese sulfate

calcium pantothenate

copper sulfate

vitamin a palmitate

pyridoxine hydrochloride

riboflavin

thiamine mononitrate

folic acid

sodium molybdate

chromium chloride

biotin

potassium iodide

sodium slenite

phytonadione

vit d3

vit B12

phew, was that a long list. other than this - are there other words in ingredients that I should look out for? I know soy sauce as an ingredient contains gluten, but other than that I don't really know what to look for other than wheat, wheat flour, barley, rye, etc.

Thanks

[jenvan]

The natural and artificial flavor is the biggie. And since they do not list the source, you still need to ck with them on the status of the product. Go to this link and print off the forbidden and safe ingredient food lists: https://www.celiac.com/st_main.html?p_catid=12 They will be a big help to you when shopping and checking labels.

[jerseyangel]

Kari--the natural and artificial flavors should send a red flag. Unless you know that a certain company will list any gluten ingredients, and not hide them in descriptions like these, it is always best to call and speak to someone. I am not familiar with Weight Watchers brand, so I don't know their policy. The safest thing to do would be to call them. Is there a # on the package?

Jen--I think we typed in at the same time

[jenvan]

(We did Patti! Both sittin in front of our computers... Although I do that the whole day!)

[kari]

Kari--the natural and artificial flavors should send a red flag. Unless you know that a certain company will list any gluten ingredients, and not hide them in descriptions like these, it is always best to call and speak to someone. I am not familiar with Weight Watchers brand, so I don't know their policy. The safest thing to do would be to call them. Is there a # on the package?

Jen--I think we typed in at the same time

I have read through a bunch of the other posts here, and most said that natural and artificial flavors were generally okay in the US, and especially since they're at the very end, I wasn't as worried about it. The one that I was more confused about was the maltodextrin? since I know malt isn't allowed, but I wasn't sure if it was the same thing, like how soy sauce is bad but soy itself isn't. I tried calling the 800 number but it's all just automated stuff about finding weight watchers meetings, etc., I couldn't get anyone on the line to ask about ingredients in their products.

[happygirl]

maltodextrin is safe.... just looks deceiving

also---not ALL soy sauces are gluten filled. There are some that are safe. However, the majority of processed foods with soy sauce in them have gluten (from my own label reading).

[jenvan]

Maltodextrin does not have to do with malt...it is a starch, and in the US must be made from corn or potato. So that is safe. I personally always ck on natural and artificial flavors...

[Becky6]

Yep, always check on those flavors. I have been surprised a few times when they have had gluten in them! Good luck!

[gabby]

the lo-fat cocoa could also be suspect. Since it has been modified, it is worth checking out.

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

Sorry to say to me it's filled with poison. I did a little research on a few ingredients below.

Many of the food being sold on the shelves are from the old labling. And will be there until the consumers buy up what there is. Sad isn't it?! If you don't feel good this might be why...

Here goes:

maltodextrin = What is a maltodextrin?

maltodextrins are easily digestible carbohydrates made from natural corn starch. The starch is cooked, and then acid and/or enzymes are used to break the starch into smaller polymers (a process similar to that used by the body to digest carbohydrate).

maltodextrins are generally sold as dried powders.

maltodextrins are polymers of dextrose (sometimes labeled "glucose polymers").

maltodextrins do not contain significant quantities of protein, fat or fiber.

maltodextrins are not produced from and do not contain malt products.

maltodextrins are not known to contain MSG.

Diabetics should follow the advice of their physicians.

maltodextrin’s glycemic index should be considered metabolically equivalent to glucose (dextrose).

lofat cocoa processed with alkali

whey protein = Open Original Shared Link

cellulose

natural and artificial flavor < BIG FAT RED FLAG - anything can be hidden here.

fructose = A very sweet sugar, C6H12O6, occurring in many fruits and honey and used as a preservative for foodstuffs and as an intravenous nutrient. Also called fruit sugar, levulose.

soy lecithin = Open Original Shared Link You might not believe it. In time you will see as I did why many of us got sick.

aspartame = This is also poison -- Aspartame Side Effects

The components of aspartame can lead to a number of health problems, as you have read. Side effects can occur gradually, can be immediate, or can be acute reactions. According to Lendon Smith, M.D. there is an enormous population suffering from side effects associated with aspartame, yet have no idea why drugs, supplements and herbs don’t relieve their symptoms. Then, there are users who don’t ‘appear’ to suffer immediate reactions at all. Even these individuals are susceptible to the long-term damage caused by excitatory amino acids, phenylalanine, methanol, and DKP.

Adverse reactions and side effects of aspartame include:

Eye

blindness in one or both eyes

decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision

pain in one or both eyes

decreased tears

trouble with contact lenses

bulging eyes

Ear

tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound

severe intolerance of noise

marked hearing impairment

Neurologic

epileptic seizures

headaches, migraines and some severe

dizziness, unsteadiness, both

confusion, memory loss, both

severe drowsiness and sleepiness

paresthesia or numbness of the limbs

severe slurring of speech

severe hyperactivity and restless legs

atypical facial pain

severe tremors

Psychological/Psychiatric

severe depression

irritability

aggression

anxiety

personality changes

insomnia

phobias

Chest

palpitations, tachycardia

shortness of breath

recent high blood pressure

Gastrointestinal

nausea

diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools

abdominal pain

pain when swallowing

Skin and Allergies

itching without a rash

lip and mouth reactions

hives

aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma

Endocrine and Metabolic

loss of control of diabetes

menstrual changes

marked thinning or loss of hair

marked weight loss

gradual weight gain

aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

severe PMS

Other

frequency of voiding and burning during urination

excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating

increased susceptibility to infection

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all

death

irreversible brain damage

birth defects, including mental retardation

peptic ulcers

aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets

hyperactivity in children

severe depression

aggressive behavior

suicidal tendencies

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Epstein-Barr

Post-Polio Syndrome

Lyme Disease

Grave’s Disease

Meniere’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

ALS

Epilepsy

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

EMS

Hypothyroidism

Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings

Fibromyalgia

Lupus

non-Hodgkins

Lymphoma

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

These are not allergies or sensitivities, but diseases and disease syndromes. Aspartame poisoning is commonly misdiagnosed because aspartame symptoms mock textbook ‘disease’ symptoms, such as Grave’s Disease.

calcium phosphate

guar gum

calcium carbonate

xanthan gum

salt

ascorbic acid

ferrous fumarate

alpha tocopherol

acetate = A salt or ester of acetic acid.

Cellulose acetate or any of various products, especially fibers, derived from it.