| "Our products do not contain aluminum, artificial | | | | Yet, making beef jerky at home is also a possibility. |
| fragrances, artificial flavours, dyes, mineral oil, parabens, | | | | You'll probably want a dehydrator and some lean |
| petrolatum, phtalates, artificial preservatives, triclosan or | | | | ground beef. You will probably want to add some |
| other unwanted artificial ingredients." Thus states The | | | | things yourself, but now you do get to choose. There |
| Green Beaver Company, a Canadian firm | | | | is a commercially available product sold under the |
| manufacturing "healthy all natural personal care | | | | brand name Jerky Works. They provide jerky making |
| products", as they describe the toothpastes which | | | | tools and flavorings. Typically, you would mix one of |
| they include in their lineup of products. | | | | their flavor packets and one of their cure packets with |
| This is all part of a growing trend, a trend to go back | | | | one pound of that lean, ground beef. Yes, this means |
| to the natural, and the organic. Many consumers now | | | | there are still "additives", but now you are only adding |
| actively seek products that are not filled with unknown | | | | Dextrose, Salt, Natural Spices, Hickory Smoked Flavor, |
| and, to them, suspect chemicals. They don't want | | | | Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Monosodium Glutamate, |
| cosmetics that have gone through much animal testing | | | | Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, and Imitation Maple |
| on the way to marketability. They want products that | | | | Flavor in the seasoning, and salt and sodium nitrate in |
| are environmentally safe and people friendly. | | | | the "cure". Is that better? |
| This thinking, however, is not limited to toothpaste and | | | | Many would say, "yes", but if you are saying, "no", you |
| face creams. Our food supplies are also now coming | | | | still have the option of doing your own flavoring and |
| under increased scrutiny by those who want to | | | | curing. One recipe calls for flank steak, soy sauce, |
| address these legitimate concerns. The typical North | | | | garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, |
| American now enjoys unprecedented choice, | | | | and seasoning salt. Is that even better? It might be, but |
| convenience and abundance when it comes to | | | | you might want to consider the fact that |
| choosing food supplies for fridge, freezer or kitchen | | | | Worcestershire sauce also has a list of ingredients - |
| cupboard. Yet, is there a hidden price being paid? The | | | | malt vinegar, white vinegar, blackstrap molasses, soya |
| answer to that depends upon what you feel about | | | | sauce (water, wheat, soybeans, salt, sodium |
| food additives, and to just what you consider to be an | | | | benzoate), brown sugar, salt, spices, onion powder, |
| additive. Even fresh food can sometimes be suspect. | | | | garlic powder, tamarind concentrate, caramel color, |
| Is it possible that those tomatoes might have a trace | | | | anchovies, citric acid, spice extract, polysorbate 80, |
| of pesticide residue left upon them? What really is in | | | | sulphites and natural flavor as found in one brand. |
| that waxy substance that is used to make those | | | | One could choose another recipe, but the simple fact |
| apples so shiny and attractive? | | | | is that you are unlikely to be able to entirely eliminate |
| Often preservatives are necessary. They can extend | | | | these so-called food additives whether you are buying |
| shelf life, add flavor, and hinder bacterial growth. They | | | | it from the store, or whether you are doing your own |
| are what have made possible much of the abundance | | | | food processing. Even salt, which is so often used and |
| and variety that we enjoy today. But is there anything | | | | so often termed a "natural" ingredient, is actually a |
| that we can do to cut back on at least some of these | | | | chemical - sodium chloride, so with it, you are still adding |
| chemicals that we almost unknowingly consume each | | | | chemicals. On the other hand, by doing it yourself you |
| and every day? Well, that is one area in which home | | | | do get to exercise control. You pick. You choose. |
| food storage can play a role. | | | | They're additives which you will have approved. |
| Consider a package of beef jerky. It is relatively | | | | Beef jerky might not be something that would appeal |
| inexpensive, easily available, and tasty. Check out the | | | | to a vegan, but it does make for a good example. The |
| package cover. It likely says right on it, "High in Protein - | | | | fact is these choices can be made in relation to all |
| Low in Fat." That certainly sounds like a nice, healthful | | | | sorts of food storage. Check out the additives in that |
| snack, but what's all of that in the list of ingredients? | | | | can of tomato sauce. What could you eliminate if you |
| There's beef, water, sugar, soy sauce, salt, spices, | | | | made your own sauce? Would a food washer put |
| maltodextrin, monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed corn | | | | your mind at ease when it comes to those pesticide |
| protein, sodium erthorbate, sodium nitrite and mesquite | | | | residues? Are you a hiker and enjoy trail mix, but have |
| smoke. If you don't like it, don't eat it. There's no other | | | | trouble finding something suitable for you personally? |
| choice. This is on a "take it or leave it basis." You could, | | | | Again, you can do it yourself, and control it yourself. |
| of course, look for another brand, but, again, you | | | | Home food storage can indeed save you money, but it |
| cannot remove what has already been added, and | | | | can also allow you to make more healthful food |
| there is sure to have been something added. | | | | choices. |