An Orwellian Reminder

When Naturally Fresh... Isn't.

I’ve gotten to the point where any claims on the labels of food packages are an immediate red flag. ย With all the Orwellian “Doublespeak” surrounding our foods, I now assume that packaged foods are “guilty until proven innocent” when it comes to what’s printed on the box.

Take, for example, this salad dressing I encountered on a recent flight. I was lucky enough to use miles to upgrade to the front of the plane, which meant they gave me lunch. I chose the salmon*, which was served on on a bed of mixed greens, sprinkled with radish, jicama, and mango. It was a far cry from the wilted iceberg lettuce they would have served a few years ago. ย It was really quite nice, and I was grateful to have a meal.

But the dressing was disappointing.ย I’m glad that ingredients were listed, because they let me easily see through any marketing hype on the front. The name of the company — not just the product! — is “Naturally Fresh.” It’s even manufactured on “Naturally Fresh Boulevard!” How great! Who wouldn’t want to eat something that’s both “natural” and “fresh?”

But then I read on. I didn’t even have to read past theย first ingredient:

High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Peach Puree, Soybean Oil, Sesame Oil, Vinegar, Lemon Juice From Concentrate, Food Starch-Modified, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt, Sesame Seeds, Tahini (Ground Sesame Seeds), Granulated Garlic, Caramel Color, Ground Ginger, Natural Flavor, Cayenne Pepper.

Not natural. Not fresh. Not even close.

I skipped the dressing, and my salad was perfectly lovely without it.

* I usually avoid farmed salmon, which this likely was, but I was hungry and figured it was a better choice than the likely-factory-farm chicken. Can’t win ’em all.

A photo of Andrew Wilder leaning into the frame and smiling, hovering over mixing bowls in the kitchen.

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Hi! My name is Andrew Wilder, and I think healthy eating doesnโ€™t have to suck. With just three simple eating rules, we'll kickstart your journey into the delicious and vibrant world of unprocessed food.

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Dennis
June 12, 2013 6:18 pm

What’s worse than finding a worm in an apple? You know the answer. Goes for salmon as well. ๐Ÿ™‚

Dennis
June 9, 2013 10:08 am

To add to the farmed vs wild caught salmon issue, a friend told me that someone told her (who is not involved in the farmed industry but independent and knowledgeable; sorry I can’t recall) that wild salmon are subject to worms, fungus,infections and stuff, and are problematic in their own way. Where that leaves us, other than avoiding salmon, I’m not sure?