Mixed truths and half-truths iyan. Actually, ang dapat nating isipin as espiyas, how did they come up with such a list?
Sagutin ko rin: Because it is easier to catch people's attention through alarm. Kung sasabihin ng nutritionists na masama ang sobrang tartrazine sa katawan, walang makikinig. Kaya ang sinasabi, nakakasama ang masyadong maraming food coloring. Still not getting through? Gawin nating mas simple. May link sa pagkakaroon ng cancer at artificial coloring at flavors! For good measure magbigay ng example: softdrinks, chichirya, margarine!
Alam niyo ba na hindi lahat ng preservative ay masama? Isa sa mga preservative na nakabubuti sa atin ay ascorbic acid o vitamin C. Yet hindi alam ng nakararami iyan, or do they care enough. Kaya ang mga food manufacturer para mas mabenta ang products nila, nilalagay sa package: "No Artificial colorings, flavorings" Pero ano ang artificial? Ano ang natural? Peanut butter may be made with real peanuts, without sugar added to the cooking process and more oil than necessary. Pero it can still be considered artificial because it is not found in nature! All prepared food is artificial! (Sana nakukuha niyo ang meaning ko.)
Let us go to fat and oil. By now, kung mahilig kayong magbasa ng food magazines, diet and health books, malamang alam niyo na may iba't ibang klase ng fat. And not all are created equal. May nakatutulong sa katawan (omega 3-, 6- and even 9 fatty acids), meron ding kontrabida (saturated fat tulad ng taba ng hayop). Kung nagresearch din kayo alam niyo na rin ang legal basis sa food packaging kapag may nakalagay na "lite," "diet," "fat-free," o "cholesterol-free." Pero sana alam niyo na rin ang historical significance ng fat sa diet ng tao. Since the beginning of civilization, man has rarely ingested energy mostly in the form of fat (exception given: Eskimos or Inuits sa Arctic na ito lang ang source of sustenance). Usually, luxury lang iyan. Pampalasa sa pagkain. Pero dahil sa increased food production na bunga ng industrialization, it became readily available. (Alam niyo rin sana na most of the corn grown in the US and even in the Philippines is not eaten by man, but fed to cattle. Dito pinapataba ang baka para magkaroon ng "marbled beef." Malakas ang kita sa food industry dahil malakas ang demand. Masarap e.)
As for iced tea, as far as I know, ang original recipe niyan ay liquid tea plus ice. Katulad ng orange juice. Orange juice lang. Walang dagdag na tubig, walang dagdag na asukal. Over the years, nagbago ang panlasa ng tao. Dahil universally-liked ang lasa na matamis, unti-unti, over the years, tumamis nang tumamis ang pagkain at inumin. Nagbago ang panlasa ng tao. Alam niyo rin sana na ang original na coffee ay no sugar, no cream?
As for salt, specifically the sodium content of chippy and other chichirya, may love-hate affair ang medical science diyan. Suffice it to say na lahat ng masama ay sobra. Humans can not live without salt. Sodium and chloride ions enable your cells to exist.
As for instant noodles, (usually pancit canton pero it applies to all products) tignan na lang ang ingredients list ng package. When you compare it with a chemical analysis sa dried egg noodles, kaunti lang ang iniba bukod sa added preservatives ('yang word na naman). Mas matakot ka sa spices at seasonings (sino ngayon ang nananakot?) dahil mas mahirap i-decipher ang ingredients.
As espiyas, I entreat you to understand how propaganda works.
