Processed FOOD Products

1. Processed FOOD Products Group 7 Almajar, Biaco, Cruz, Gomez, Legaspi, Moleño, Montelibano, Resurrection, Siazon, Tolosa, TJ Uy, Yu

2. Processed FOODS Raw ingredients transformed from their natural state for safety reasons, storage and convenience. Basically anything canned, packed, frozen, refrigerated, dehydrated and processed.

3. What are the Issues? • To alter these food ingredients for manufacturing, additives are added to improve or intensify flavor, prolong shelf-life, enhance texture. • Nitrates and sulfites (e.g. tocino) • Sodium • Food preservatives • Artificial food extenders, colors and flavorings • Food processing alters the natural state of the food, losing vitamins and nutrients in the process • Processed foods therefore could be considered as “empty calories

4. What are the issues? • Traditional food packaging techniques are being highly criticized • Canned goods could be contaminated by lead/metal poisoning, or development of rust • Plastic food containers poise a threat to the environments • Hygiene and safety is an issue

5. What are the reported negative effects and consequences? • Nitrates and nitrites are known to cause asthma, nausea, vomiting and headaches • Processed meats such as hotdogs and sausages increase the risk of pancreatic cancer • These food products contain trans fats that enhance LDL cholesterol levels in the body which could lead to the development of heart diseases • With high salt and fat content, hypertension is apparent • Food contamination • Food sweeteners could cause cancer and diabetes • Debate about Monsodium Glutamate (MSG) (e.g. Oishi Potato Chips)

6. What would you suggest be d0ne? • Food fortification • PROBLEM: Vitamins denature at high temperature (UHT) needed to package and can processed goods • EXAMPLE: For dried fish, instead of using normal salt, use iodized salt • Always choose the “fortified” option • Stricter government (BFAD) policies on food processing and packaging • Limits should be set on the use of preservatives • All manufacturers should be required to include nutritional labels on the back of their products • This should be made mandatory • Sellers should be required to send back products lacking nutritional labels • Alternative packaging • Bottling up process goods instead of canning them • Tin-lined steel (iron) cans vs. Aluminum cans • Aluminum Cans can handle acidic processed foods than tin cans, although more costly because of the recycling process they undergo before using them up again • Although tin is corrosion resistant, acid food (i.e. vegetables and fruit) can cause corrosion of tin layer

7. What would you suggest be done? • Promote vacuum sealing/packing of processed food • Best way to process meat and fish: vacuum sealing • Fund research on alternatives to monosodium glutamate • THE POINT: Food processing ruins the taste, thus, MSG is added considerably to compensate for the flavor loss • Stricter advertisement guidelines • Nutritional facts of products as well as the significance of those should be made available and accessible (i.e. in a company’s website, flyers etc.) – RIGHT OF THE CONSUMER TO KNOW • False information should be scrapped out of any product advertisement (i.e. claiming live microorganisms in yogurt that has passed through UHT etc.)

8. What would you suggest be done? • As a general rule, if you don’t recognize or cant pronounce the ingredients on the label, don’t buy it or eat it. Opt instead for the real thing • Push for organic lifestyle in the Western world • Don’t eat partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated trans fats • Don’t eat products containing sugar substitutes such as saccharine and aspartame. • Avoid products with long shelf-life • Avoid foods that have been genetically modified or engineered

9. Multiple Choice Questions!  • Processed foods typically contain the following except: • Food preservatives • Nitrates and sulfites • High sodium and trans fats • Natural vitamins and minerals • The following types of food can corrode tin-lined steel cans EXCEPT • Sardines in tomato sauce • Corned beef • Fruit cocktails • Green peas