There was a time when I thought I could trust labels. I thought products couldn’t be sold in America if they were unsafe. I naively believed that governmental agencies tasked with keeping harmful products off store shelves actually did that. Thankfully, I have learned better and have compiled a list of ingredients to avoid when reading labels.
You’re probably better informed than I was, connecting the dots between the health of your family and the products you buy and use.
But maybe, despite your best intentions, you haven’t had time to research and to track down published studies and scientific articles. I totally get it! The baby’s crying.The toddler is feeding his lunch to the dog. The laundry you washed yesterday is still in the washer, because the load you did the day before is still in the dryer. All the hampers are overflowing. And now the teenager is sulking. Somehow reading labels just doesn’t fit into your busy day.
Greenwashing
Let me help you with a list of ingredients to avoid when reading labels. But to be clear, manufacturers have gotten very good at ”greenwashing” their labels and marketing. I’ll go into more detail in another post.
- Sodium Nitrite
- natural flavor
- Sodium Aluminum Phosphate
- artificial flavorings
- Sodium Benzoate
- Polysorbate 80
- Parabens
- High-fructose corn syrup
- phthalates
- PFAS
- artificial sweeteners
- Guar Gum
- TBHQ
- yeast extract
- hydrolyzed protein
- MSG
- synthetic fragrance
- artificial food color
- trans fat
Pay attention to labels
Don’t get overwhelmed as you begin reading labels on all the things you use. Begin today with one or two products you use every day. Soon it will be second-nature to quickly scan product labels so you can make more informed choices as you choose what you will allow into your home. Think about bioaccumulation – the buildup of small amounts of substances in the body until the absorption rate is faster than that at which the substance can be eliminated. Notice how many of your products contain these and other harmful ingredients. As you start to eliminate them, notice changes in how you feel and in your wellness.
Labels are created to grab your attention and convince you to choose that box/bottle/product setting on the shelf or pictured in an online ad. Manufacturers are VERY good at covering up anything that would make us not want to buy the product.
Manufacturers know how to make us THINK we’re buying a clean product, when in fact it is just creative wording.
“But that’s why we have the FDA, right?”
I used to think so. But the FDA doesn’t know or care about a product or its label until consumers report damage in large numbers. And then it may take a decade or more before they actually take any action. Many American companies make two versions of their products: one for Americans with the yucky stuff, and one for Europe because the yucky stuff has been banned. Say Whuuut?
Join My Community of Informed Mamas & Grandmamas
A teacher at heart, though no longer in a public school classroom, I now teach what I’ve learned to momas and grandmoms who want to do better for their families. I moderate a private Facebook group where we learn together. I’d love to welcome you into the group.