Friday 20 March 2015

3 simple steps to read food labels the right way

How can we be a smart consumer? Start by learning how to read the food labels in 3 simple ways.



1. Look for the manufacturer and distributor if they are of the same company.

Choosing a product that is manufactured and distributed by the same company ensures the accountability of the company; steers in the direction towards safe and quality products.

Example: A product is manufactured by ABC company and distributed by DEF company; if you have any query or issues, which company do we look for?

2. Look out for the ingredients

The importance of choosing the right nutrients can nourish and step up our immune system. Hence it is crucial to ensure that the ingredients listed are wholesome over synthetic / man-made vitamins & minerals. The sequential of the ingredients listed also indicates the proportion of the ingredients that goes into the making.

How do we know what's wholesome and what is not?
Let's look at a simple analogy

Which part of the car do you think is the most important? Is it the engine, tyre or steering wheel?
In fact, every part of the car is very important. We cannot simply drive the car with just a steering wheel or an engine.

So let's apply the analogy back to the example.



The top label with wholesome ingredients which is naturally rich in folate and other nutrients; like broccoli, asparagus, carrot which is considered as a whole car.

The bottom label with synthetic supplements like Vitamin C with Ascorbic Acid which is in its supplemental form. Do you even consider them as a whole car?

So which label would you choose?

3. Barcode

Barcode is the identity of the product which bears their manufacturing details and stringent tests that it has gone through.

So now you know how to read the labels the right way in 3 easy steps, let's be a wiser consumer from today and start to look for wholesome food to nourish your body with the right nutrients.


Regards,
Karen Lim
9843-4599

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