This is my absolute favorite Frankenfood.  This is a test.  Before you look, see if you can figure out what this food product is and I’d bet you have eaten one.

• Would you know what the &%$# this product is?  The answer is at the bottom.
• HINT:  This product has a shelf life of 420 days.
• HINT: This product has been in the food recall news lately.
• Features & Benefits:  A fully-enrobed product that allows eating on the go with no mess!
• Instruction:  For food safety and quality, read and follow these COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Remove wrapper.
2.  Cook according to instructions below.*
3.  Remove product and let sit for 2 minutes. CAUTION: PRODUCT WILL BE HOT!
MICROWAVE OVEN 1100 WATT: Cook FROZEN product 1 minute 45 seconds*/REFRIGERATED product 1 minute*.
MICROWAVE OVEN 700 WATT: Cook FROZEN product 2 minutes*.
CONVENTIONAL OVEN 350°F: Place FROZEN product on foil or baking sheet. Bake in oven for 24 minutes*.
*Since ovens vary, cooking times may require adjusting. If thawing, thaw product under refrigeration (< 41°F) for a maximum of 12 days.

Suggestions:  Great for a quick lunch on-the-go!

Product Ingredients:

WATER, UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR [NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]), FULLY COOKED HAM AND WATER PRODUCT, 25% OF WEIGHT IS ADDED INGREDIENTS, GROUND AND FORMED (CURED WITH WATER, SUGAR, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, DEHYDRATED PORK BROTH, CARRAGEENAN, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOR, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE), UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), IMITATION CHEDDAR CHEESE (WATER, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CASEIN, SOYBEAN OIL, WHEY, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SALT, SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, SORBIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE], ARTIFICIAL COLOR), PART SKIM MOZZARELLA CHEESE WITH MODIFIED FOOD STARCH (PART SKIM MOZZARELLA CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, FLAVORS, ANNATTO), SEASONING (WHEY, CHEDDAR CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], BUTTERMILK, ENZYME MODIFIED CHEDDAR CHEESE [MILK, SODIUM CITRATE, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES, POTASSIUM SORBATE], SALT, REDUCED LACTOSE WHEY, COCONUT OIL, CORN MALTODEXTRIN, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, BLUE CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], CITRIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, EXTRACTIVES OF ANNATTO AND TURMERIC), 2% OR LESS OF PALM OIL (WITH SOY LECITHIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, BETA-CAROTENE [COLOR], CITRIC ACID [PRESERVATIVE]), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SEASONING (TOASTED BREAD CRUMBS [WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, YEAST, SOYBEAN OIL, SALT], CHEDDAR CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], SALT, WHEY, DEXTROSE, DEHYDRATED ONION, NATURAL FLAVOR, SOYBEAN OIL, GARLIC POWDER, REDUCED LACTOSE WHEY, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, CITRIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, DISODIUM INOSINATE & GUANYLATE, SPICE, BLUE CHEESE [MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA & ANNATTO), SUGAR, SEASONING (WHEY, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, CHEDDAR/BLUE CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], SALT, NONFAT MILK, SODIUM CASEINATE, (MSG) SODIUM CITRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID, EXTRACTIVES OF ANNATTO, PAPRIKA AND TURMERIC [COLOR]), PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL (WITH SOY LECITHIN), SALT, YEAST, DOUGH CONDITIONER (CALCIUM SULFATE, SALT, L-CYSTEINE HYDROCHLORIDE, GARLIC POWDER, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, ENZYMES), DOUGH CONDITIONER (DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES WITH ASCORBIC ACID AND CITRIC ACID [ANTIOXIDANTS]), EGG YOLKS, LACTIC ACID, WHEY, SOY FLOUR, EGG WHITES, SOYBEAN OIL. CONTAINS:  MILK, EGG, SOY, WHEAT INGREDIENTS

WOW and SERIOUSLY, about the only things this product doesn’t contain are nuts & fish.

Answer:  HOT POCKETS

 

Nutrisystem Diet Food For Weight Loss-Double Chocolate Muffin

Their Description:  “If you can’t get enough chocolate or just love the idea of sweets in the morning, this may be the perfect breakfast for you! This rich muffin is filled with real chocolate chips, for bursts of intense, chocolatey flavor. Great right out of the package, this makes a perfect breakfast on-the-go”.

Ingredients List:

WATER, SUGAR, CHOCOLATE CHIPS (SUGAR, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, COCOA BUTTER, SOY LECITHIN, VANILLA EXTRACT), WHEAT PROTEIN ISOLATE (WHEAT GLUTEN, PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, SULFITE), (CHICORY) INULIN, EGG, GLYCEROL, WHITE WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, ENRICHED BLEACHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, IRON, NIACIN, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, MALTITOL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: NONFAT DRY MILK, LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, CORN STARCH, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CORN FIBER, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, SODIUM CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE GUM, PROPYLENE GLYCOL MONO AND DIESTERS OF FATS AND FATTY ACIDS, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SOY LECITHIN WITH BHT AND CITRIC ACID TO HELP PROTECT FLAVOR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, VANILLA EXTRACT ( WATER, ALCOHOL, SUGAR, VANILLA BEANS), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL CHOCOLATE EXTRACT (ALCOHOL, WATER, COCOA BEAN EXTRACTIVES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, RED #40, YELLOW #6 AND BLUE #1), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL BUTTER FLAVOR (NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, WATER, XANTHAN GUM, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM BENZOATE, ALCOHOL, TUMERIC, BETA CAROTENE, NATURAL MIXED TOCOPHEROLS), SUCRALOSE, SALT, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE). CONTAINS MILK, EGG, WHEAT AND SOY.

CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE GUM and this is only one ingredient from the list above.

CMC is used in food science as a viscosity modifier or thickener, and to stabilize emulsions in various products including ice cream. As a food additive, it has E number E466. It is also a constituent of many non-food products, such as personal lubricants, toothpaste, laxatives, diet pills, water-based paints, detergents, textile sizing, and various paper products. It is used primarily because it has high viscosity, is nontoxic, and is hypoallergenic (except for those suffering an intolerance to wheat). In laundry detergents, it is used as a soil suspension polymer designed to deposit onto cotton and other cellulosic fabrics, creating a negatively charged barrier to soils in the wash solution. CMC is used as a lubricant in nonvolatile eye drops (artificial tears). Sometimes, methyl cellulose (MC) is used, but its nonpolar methyl groups (-CH₃) do not add any solubility or chemical reactivity to the base cellulose.

Nutrisystem Diet Food For Weight Loss-Salisbury Steak With Mac & Cheese

Their Description:  “Hearty, fork-tender Salisbury steak is topped with perfectly seasoned mushroom gravy and served alongside creamy, cheesy homestyle mac & cheese. This is comfort food at its best; a simple, delicious, all-American fare”.

Ingredients List:

WATER, COOKED SALISBURY STEAK (BEEF, WATER, BREAD CRUMBS [WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, YEAST, SALT], ONIONS, ISOLATED SOY PROTEIN, LESS THAN 2% OF EGG WHITES, TOMATOES, NONFAT MILK SOLIDS, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CARAMEL COLOR, SPICE), COOKED ENRICHED PASTA (WATER, ENRICHED SEMOLINA [SEMOLINA, FERROUS SULFATE, NIACIN, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], INULIN (VEGETABLE FIBER), WHEAT GLUTEN, XANTHAN GUM, PECTIN, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE), MUSHROOMS, LESS THAN 2% OF MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, PASTEURIZED PROCESS CHEESE SPREAD (AMERICAN CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, WHEY, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MILKFAT, SALT, SODIUM-ALGINATE, LACTIC ACID, APOCAROTENAL (COLOR)), NONFAT DRY MILK, CHEDDAR CLUB CHEESE (CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, SALT, ANNATTO (COLOR)), CANOLA OIL, TOMATO PASTE, BEEF-TYPE FLAVOR (WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, BEEF STOCK, SALT, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, CORN STARCH), POT ROAST-TYPE FLAVOR (WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT, BEEF STOCK, BEEF FAT, AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, CORN STARCH, XANTHAN GUM), SALT, YEAST EXTRACT, CHEESE FLAVOR (CHEDDAR CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, YEAST EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, XANTHAN GUM), MILK-TYPE FLAVOR (EVAPORATED CANE JUICE, GUM ARABIC, NATURAL FLAVOR), FERMENTED SOY SAUCE POWDER (SOY SAUCE [FERMENTED SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT], MALTODEXTRIN), PARMESAN CHEESE FLAVOR (PARMESAN CHEESE [MILK, STARTER CULTURE, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, SKIM MILK POWDER, SALT), BEEF-TYPE FLAVOR (WATER, YEAST EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVOR, SALT), XANTHAN GUM, GRANULATED GARLIC, GRANULATED ONIONS, CARAMEL COLOR, METHYLCELLULOSE, BLUE CHEESE POWDER (BLUE CHEESE [PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, CHEESE CULTURE, ENZYMES]), DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, NATURAL FLAVOR (POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, MALTODEXTRIN, DISODIUM INOSINATE AND DISODIUM GUANYLATE, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, NATURAL FLAVOR), ANNATTO (COLOR), MUSTARD FLOUR, SPICES, CARAMELIZED ONION FLAVOR (SUNFLOWER OIL, NATURAL FLAVOR).

How is it possible to have this many ingredients in any one food product?  It kind of surprises me there is no dehydrated water.

What is CARAMELIZED ONION FLAVOR?  They have in parenthesis (sunflower oil and natural flavor) but the last I knew it was slowly cooked onions in a little fat until golden brown and delicious.

Do you know what Blueberry Bits are?  They’re made entirely of sugar, corn cereal, modified food starch, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, artificial flavor, cellulose gum, salt and artificial colors like Blue #2, Red #40, Green #3 and Blue #1 and are in products ranging from cereals, bagels, breads and muffins.  The Fiber One Premium Muffin Mix below?  Click on the thumbnail and take a good look at the front of the box in the upper right corner.  There are no blueberries what-so-ever in the mix and they are calling this premium…wonder what the medium and low level mixes look like. Seriously folks, is this what Americans are eating?

You may rest assured you are eating Cargill ingredients when you are eating these these and many other diet-weight loss products.

 

Ronald Reagan famously said, “Trust but Verify”.  At the signing of the INF Treaty, his counterpart Mikhail Gorbachev responded:  “you repeat that at every meeting,” to which Reagan answered:  “I like it”…I like it too.