As usual, I compared the unit cost on all three brands of clams and chose the cheaper of the three. I mean how different could they be, they're clams! But to my utter horror and amazement they were not!
Sunday night I set about to make my clam chowder. Half an onion, a lot of garlic, some bacon and six potatoes later I was ready to add the clams. For the fun of it, I decided to read the ingredients expecting to see: clams. But what I saw was that insidious word: SUGAR! WHAT?! Sugar! Why on Goddesses' Green Earth do a can of clams need sugar!
What in the world does the sugar do for the clams?! Does it somehow make us addicted to THAT brand of clams? What were the CEO's and CFO's of this company thinking when they got the not so bright idea to add sugar! Do I seriously need my clams to be sweetened?
So after ranting and raving for a bit, I went ahead and made my clam chowder, apologized to my intestines and vowed to always read labels!
In my curiosity, I decided to scavenge through my cupboards and fridge to see where else sugar was lurking. Some items were no surprise, but some made me go GRRRRRRR!
Here is my list:
Trader Joe's Champagne Vinaigrette
Trader Joe's Dijon Mustard
Trader Joe's Organic Ketchup
Trader Joe's Ranch Dressing
Trader Joe's Tortilla Chips
Trader Joe's Blackberry Preserves
Trader Joe's Thai Red Curry Sauce
Trader Joe's Honey Wheat Hamburger Buns
Trader Joe's Organic Bacon
Nature's Path Organic Flax Plus Cereal
Nature's Path Organic Instant Oatmeal
Kettle BBQ Chips
Dynasty Hoisin Sauce
Stonewall Kitchen BBQ Sauce
Pamela's Wheat and Gluten Free Pancake and Baking Mix
Pamela's Wheat and Gluten Free Bread and Flour Mix
So what's a girl to do when even items that are supposed to be "health" foods contain sugar? Time for another overhaul! I guess I'll be looking for new brands or making my own ketchup and baking mixes!
I challenge you. What items do you have in your pantry and fridge that contain sugar?
Organic all natural peanut butter. Grrr. That was my latest discovery.
ReplyDeleteoooo big GRRRRR
ReplyDeleteSugar in clams??? The surprise I found in clams I bought recently was MSG! There's another one to avoid. I rinsed my clams really really well before putting them in my chowder. I'm pretty religious about looking for sugar, and I guess I'm doing pretty well because I can't find anything with sugar that I didn't expect. Yay! Both brands of organic peanut butter I have are just peanuts and salt.
ReplyDeleteMSG! UGH!! Good job Julie on looking out for sugar. Seriously, there is no need for sugar in clams or peanut butter and certainly not MSG!
ReplyDeleteI opened a bottle of specialty bbq sauce the other night thinking I'd smear it on my chicken legs, but after seeing sugar on the label, I put the lid back on and made my own sauce!