... about "hidden" ingredients

[LurkingHusband]

Nosing in the supermarket last week, and idly noticed this:

www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/pulses-beans/jamie-oliver-mustard-pearl-barley-250g

Interest whetted, I picked up the packet, and read front:

"Marvellous mustard pearl barley with borlotti beans wholegrain mustard and thyme"

feeling peckish, I turned over, and read the re-stated large print description on the rear:

"A blend of pearl barley, borlotti beans and wholegrain mustard"

Ooooooh, nice. I thought. However, being old and ugly (and a fussy eater), there was one more piece of research to do. Read the ingredients:

Pre-Cooked Barley (48%) (Pearl Barley (contains Gluten), Water), Rehydrated Borlotti Beans (28%) (Borlotti Beans, Water), Artichokes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Red Wine Vinegar (contains Sulphites), Wholegrain Mustard (Water, Vinegar, Mustard Seeds, Natural Flavouring, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Antioxidant (Potassium Bisulphite), Spices) (2.6%), Honey, Thyme, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Thickener (Xanthan Gum)

Artichokes ? Kept that quiet didn't they ?

Anyway, I guess my AIBU is to feel that ingredients are sometimes "hidden" ? As in not mentioned anywhere in the "headline", but lurking to upset the unwary ? Worst example was a fish pie I had years ago in a supermarket cafe. Nowhere in the blurb did it mention that onion was the 3rd ingredient after fish and [mashed] potato (and who cooks fish with onions anyway). Until with unerring accuracy I located it with my first mouthful.

• the ingredients on a packet and one of them was cochineal (red dye obtained from a Mexican insect).

Is that bad? I would rather eat cochineal rather than some azo dye derived from petrochemicals.

Loads of cultures eat insects as part of their diet so its not exactly outrageous to use them as a dye. If anything we should eat more insects excellent source of protein and much better for the environment.

I think there is also clearly confusion about xanthum gum and its production. Xanthum gum is a polysaccharide nothing to be worried about starch is another polysaccharide found in bread and potatoes. The polysaccharide is produced by bacteria the same bacteria that can rot foods like cabbage. A quick read and it appears that the 'food' for the bacteria is often whey. Its not bug poo if you think that then you're basically saying diabetics who rely on insulin inject themselves with bug poo!

While I agree we should be clear about labelling food I also think there is a lot of misinformation out there.

If you think about it a prawn has many characteristics of an insect, exoskeleton, segmented body. We are quite happy to eat them.

The history of cochineal is quite interesting. I was pretty sure that the insects weren't used any more because of the high associated costs to I had a bit of a google. Turns out that the artificial red dyes that replaced it have proven problematic so cochineal is back in.

I've been known to complain to manufacturers about the presence of coconut "unadvertised" in biscuits and muesli as it is a dominant flavour and completely unwelcome in either of those products for me.

I think YABU a bit. The ingredients are listed there for you to see! Nobody is making you buy or eat these things. Pick up pack, scan ingredients, put down if you don't want it.

(Also, YABU if you expect a quiche not to contain onions!)

I got really into the habit of reading ingredients when I was vegan a few years back. I still do it now sometimes. I don't think it's overly difficult as you get quite quick at scanning and picking out certain words.

I think if you're really averse to something (like onions) you should check before you order whether the item contains them. It's what I always did with animal products. It's impractical to expect restaurants/cafes/whatever to list absolutely every ingredient.

Though saying that, I believe there's been new legislation since December that means restaurants have to provide information on allergens in food (onions aren't on the list though...).

(Also, YABU if you expect a quiche not to contain onions!)

"Quiche" ? Or Quiche Lorraine ?

No onions in the latter

This thread has really made mr laugh, so thank you op.

textfan, oh definitely, I agree. You shouldn't label things vegetarian if they're not. I just mean it's not practical for restaurants to list every single ingredient on the menu.

Though a lot of chain places do have nutritional info online now, so you can always check before you go.