Food Additives
Americans spend around 90% of their food budget money on processed foods. These foods have been treated, stripped altered or refined in some way after harvesting or butchered. Almost all of these types of foods contain additives. These additives may include flavorings which change the foods taste, preservatives to extend shelf life, coloring that changes the appearance, and dietary additives which add vitamin, minerals, fatty acids ect. The FDA has approved 3,000 different food additives, most being unnatural for the body and many being banned from other countries (Additives, 2013). This is why it is important to eat whole natural foods that you are able to identify all ingredients.
I feel it is important for consumers to be able to educate themselves on the health issues that are related to the use of additives. A good rule of thumb to remember is only eat the foods that you can pronounce in the ingredient label.
Reference:
Additives. (2013). Retrieved July 16, 2013, from Grace Communications Foundations: http://www.sustainabletable.org/385/additives#gsc.tab=0