Hi Everyone,
This week's Time magazine had an interesting article about trimming the fat. Back in the day, prior to the 1950's, food was made with real unadulterated natural ingredients. Real milk, butter, eggs, salt and sugar etc., etc. were the ingredients that were the basis for our food products. But, something happened in the 1950's that changed what we have eaten ever since.
The 1950's saw the introduction of trans fats into the production of everything from crackers to donuts to microwave popcorn to fast food burger and other fast food joints. Artificial trans fats is partially hydrogenated oils. According to the article, trans fats smooth texture, stabilize flavor and improve shelf life. It has been proven that trans fats are linked with heart disease, (clogged arteries). The center for disease control, CDC, states that 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 heart disease related deaths occur each year due to trans fats. And those numbers are sure to increase.
I am keenly aware that there are people in this country who believe that we should have less government interference in our lives. Maybe in some respects they are right. But when it comes to our food safety, I am a strong proponent of the government trying to protect our food. You can't count on big food conglomerates to put our safety ahead of their profits. So on 11/7/13, the FDA announced that it is starting the process of eliminating trans fats from the U.S. food supply. FYI, in 2006, NYC banned trans fats from restaurants. California followed in 2008 by doing the same thing.
The absence of trans fats from our foods will not happen overnight. Most likely, it will take years since food manufacturers who use it must reformulate their products. Maybe, just maybe, they will again use natural ingredients instead of finding a trans fats substitute. Time will tell.
I do believe that eventually eliminating trans fats from our food supply is a good thing and common sense over ruled big food businesses efforts to thwart it. Food is suppose to nourish our bodies and not hurt them.
Til next week.
Peter
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Here We Go Again?!
Hi Everyone,
I blogged about this a while ago, but here we go again. My previous blog on this topic will seem like a repeat today, but how low can they really go? What am I talking about? The downsizing of food items.
Last week I read my circular for our local grocery store, which happens to be a Shop Rite. I noticed that a can of spaghetti sauce was on sale for $.99 and was only 24 ounces. Before the downsizing began, some years ago, a jar or can of spaghetti sauce was 28 ounces then 26 ounces and now it is 24 ounces. Coffee was gone through the same downsizing as well as almost everything else except for maybe milk and butter. I fully understand what these companies are up to; instead of rising their prices, they downsize the quantity, while charging the same price as the previous larger size. A price increase without actually raising prices. Crazy like a fox!!! If they continue to par down the volume, they will eventually sell all food in individual sizes. That way we can all pay the most for their product. Just check out the 7 to 9 ounce frozen vegetables packages sold by Green Giant and Bird's Eye. Used to be that the 16 ounce package would be enough for 4 people. Now one package is enough for 2 people, so you have to buy 2 packages for 4 people. So my question of the day is, how low can they go in their downsizing?
I am not sure what can and will stop these companies, other than injecting some much needed common sense into their forward thinking. What they should be thinking about is how to sell more of their products. Again, Economics 101 dealing with supply and demand seems to be a thing of the past. If they sold more of their products, they would increase their production lines and maybe then they could hire more employees. Wishful thinking? I really hope not.
Til next week.
Peter
I blogged about this a while ago, but here we go again. My previous blog on this topic will seem like a repeat today, but how low can they really go? What am I talking about? The downsizing of food items.
Last week I read my circular for our local grocery store, which happens to be a Shop Rite. I noticed that a can of spaghetti sauce was on sale for $.99 and was only 24 ounces. Before the downsizing began, some years ago, a jar or can of spaghetti sauce was 28 ounces then 26 ounces and now it is 24 ounces. Coffee was gone through the same downsizing as well as almost everything else except for maybe milk and butter. I fully understand what these companies are up to; instead of rising their prices, they downsize the quantity, while charging the same price as the previous larger size. A price increase without actually raising prices. Crazy like a fox!!! If they continue to par down the volume, they will eventually sell all food in individual sizes. That way we can all pay the most for their product. Just check out the 7 to 9 ounce frozen vegetables packages sold by Green Giant and Bird's Eye. Used to be that the 16 ounce package would be enough for 4 people. Now one package is enough for 2 people, so you have to buy 2 packages for 4 people. So my question of the day is, how low can they go in their downsizing?
I am not sure what can and will stop these companies, other than injecting some much needed common sense into their forward thinking. What they should be thinking about is how to sell more of their products. Again, Economics 101 dealing with supply and demand seems to be a thing of the past. If they sold more of their products, they would increase their production lines and maybe then they could hire more employees. Wishful thinking? I really hope not.
Til next week.
Peter
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