Addictive Flavors in Formula & Food: The Food Giants Have Us Hooked

Do you know about addictive “natural flavors”? Created in a laboratory? They are anything but natural!

Meet the chemical flavorists who readily admit these “natural flavors” (really MSG-forming compounds) ARE addictive. Profit-driven, they want us to come back to buy MORE!

Mind you, more than 3,000 food additives — preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients — are added to U.S. foods., but are BANNED in other countries! We are such an unhealthy nation fooled by these sleight-of-hand tricks.

For a full list of the FDA-approved code words see Part 1. 25 code names for MSG.

Ever wonder why the commercial says,”You can’t eat just one”?

The National illuminates us as to the science of addictive food…

The Connection: “Natural” Addictive Flavors & ADHD

In (Excitotoxins Are Neurotoxins: The Taste That Can Kill) we learned how: “These (excitotoxins) can perpetuate ADHD symptoms to such peaks as to deem an individual behaviorally abnormal. Children appear to be particularly susceptible as their little bodies may be overwhelmed by “normal” doses of these toxins that are packaged in such innocuous substances as breakfast cereal and juice boxes.” (source)

The FDA defines a natural flavor as a substance extracted, distilled or similarly derived from plant or animal matter, either as is or after it has been roasted, heated or fermented, and whose function is for flavor, not nutrition.

These excitotoxins are some of the chemicals that cause your taste buds to experience irresistibility when it comes to food. Or why you remember a taste of a product so distinctly and crave uncontrollably?

Americans eat more calories than any other industrialized nation.

Here are just a few products to look for that contain code words that indicate addictive flavors:

Condiments and Spreads

• Name brand Ketchups
• Name brand Mayos 
• BBQ Sauces (almost all) except Annie’s

See my post on enzyme-rich, homemade olive oil and egg mayonnaise and the many safer alternative mayos on the market!

• Mustards (except Fresh Thyme’s wonderful organic mustard line)
• Pickles
• Salsas

BBQ sauces ingredients …’natural smoke flavor’, ‘natural flavoring’…  both are addictive flavors!

also

Spreads and Veganaise… that contain ‘natural smoke flavor’ and ‘natural flavoring’.

Chips

Doritos Nacho Cheese chips have some of the worst ingredients (see below), and they aren’t even trying to hid the words ‘monosodium glutamate’.

These very tasty little chips have at least 15 problematic ingredients including artificial colors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, and 8 MSG-forming compounds.

Sun Chips didn’t use to contain ‘natural flavors’, ‘whey protein concentrate’, or ‘enzymes’ times 3.

Now they do. The  ingredient ‘yeast extract’ changes back and forth with ‘autolyzed yeast extract’ (which is the worst msg-forming ingredient of the 2).

Doritos and Sun Chips

Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks

Another is the Gatorade lineup with a slew of chemicals.

If you are holding one in your hand, read the label. “Artificial flavor”, created in a lab, covers up the chemical taste. “Artificial” coloring is…well…artificial. Also, the first 2 ingredients are refined sugar.

Last time I looked, Gatorade had 21 g. of sugar in only 12 fl oz. overloading the liver, rotting our teeth, and causing insulin resistance leading to metabolic dysfunction including weight gain, and contribute to type II diabetes, heart disease, etc.

Powdered Drink Mixes with Addictive Flavors

Kool-Aid is one of my least favorite products. Here is what it’s label tells us is ‘good for kids’:

KOOL-AID INGREDIENTS: Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid (Provides Tartness), Contains Less Than 2% Of: Natural And Artificial Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin E Acetate, Calcium Phosphate (Prevents Caking), Acesulfame Potassium And Sucralose (Sweeteners), Artificial Color, Red 40, Blue 1, BHA (Preserves Freshness).

Don’t be fooled that this is somehow good for children! I have developed a safe, super easy aspartame-free, sweet Kool-Aid recipe. Tastes identical!

Crystal Light is a very dangerous product especially for children, addictive flavors to those with developing brains (our teens), not to mention us adults. I now believe my beloved SIL died with cancer because Crystal Light was her main beverage while on a 2 1/2 year sailing adventure! She refused to drink something unless it was flavored!

CRYSTAL LIGHT (basic ingredients) INGREDIENTS: Citric Acid, Potassium and Sodium Citrate, Aspartame, magnesium oxide, contains less than 2% of natural flavor, lemon juice solids, SOLIDS, acesulfame potassium, soy lecithin, artificial color, yellow 5, BHA (preserves freshness). Contains: soy. *phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine.

Kefir, Yogurt Often Contains Addictive Flavors

Many really good things (kefir, yogurt, pickles, and more) are now being made with added inexpensive (unnatural) addictive flavors…

…because they are way cheaper and so they sell more! More profit margin.

Manufacturers have studied buyers. They know we want more and more TASTE! They want us to become addicted! They love their growing bottom line. This is marketing at its finest!

Juices

This *fruit* juice is mostly water, sugar, and natural flavors. Fruit and veggie juices are added at the end to give it color….Hmm…

Even higher quality juice companies are using ‘natural flavors’ (addictive flavors) to compete in the TASTE competition.

100% juice, plus so much more! *Sarcasm*!

Canned Soups

Regular and organic brands. Health Valley which touts *healthy* food still adds addictive flavors.

Many Cereals and Bars Contain Addictive Flavors

Hain adds 4 addictive flavors to this cereal bar for Tots: ‘natural flavor’, ‘natural butter flavor’ and ‘natural vanilla flavor’, and carrageenan (another hidden source of MSG).

Aseptically Packaged Drinks

Almond Breeze: multiple (we are not told how many) ‘natural flavors’ and carrageenan…which many moms give their children. Carrageenan has acknowledged carcinogenic properties.

Rice Dream: ‘Natural Vanilla Flavor’ with ‘Other Natural Flavors’, but no carrageenan.

“Broth” (organic or otherwise), is another code word for a highly processed, msg-forming flavor compound.

For a full list of the FDA-approved code words see Part 1. 25 code names for MSG.

Infant Formulas Contain Addictive Flavors

And lastly, please read baby formula labels carefully, especially soy infant formulas.

Many infant formulas (even some organic brands) contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG) and processed free aspartic acid – both neurotoxins. 

Here are many things in formulas to avoid. Fortunately, women who are unable to breastfeed can make an extremely nutritious, GMO-free, MSG-free infant formula for their baby using raw milk.

So you have a choice. You can let the food companies and flavorists conduct their ‘exciting’ experiments on you, or you can stop buying their products! Don’t let them harm or incapacitate you. VOTE with your Dollars when it comes to food! You only have one body!

These Other Foods That Contain Addictive Flavors. Be a Label Reader

• PediaSure® (find a natural, healthful “PediaSure” recipe here)
• Salad dressings
• LOW FAT anything
• Diet colas or other diet drinks
• Baby foods
• Crackers
• Flavoring Packets
• Spices
• Canned ANYTHING
• Packaged meat
• Frozen foods
• Malted milk products
• Certain Soy Products
• Chinese Take Out and eat in foods
• Stir-fry sauces
• Flavored Popcorn
• CIGARETTES, for those that smoke, they even put them tobacco and filters!
• Chewing gum and Breath fresheners

What You Can Do To Eliminate Addictive Flavors

Shop the produce section of your store. Buy more raw and whole foods. Support your local farmer’s market and grow a little garden.

“Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient, and profitable when considered with other things).” ~1 Corinthians 6:12