As families start their back-to-school shopping, it’s time to think about what healthy snacks, drinks and lunches you plan to send to school with your child.
Top government officials are finally directing manufacturers to remove hazardous ingredients from foods, including harmful dyes that make food marketed especially for children more colorful. Fortunately, many companies have already announced they will be removing some harmful ingredients; however, a complete changeover could likely take a couple or few years to complete.
What are parents supposed to do in the meantime? Just reading the nutrition label printed on the package doesn’t seem to reveal everything that’s in the product.
A growing number of people are discovering mobile apps to download such as Yuka and Think Dirty that provide nutrition and ingredient information with a simple barcode scan. They are both free to download and use.
If you want to find out what harmful dyes or other unhealthy ingredients are hidden in that bag of chips or carton of ice cream, just scan the barcode using the Yuka app. If you are standing at the store shelf trying to figure out a sunscreen to get you through the rest of this summer, start scanning the barcodes. You will be shocked with what you learn about them.
You would assume a popular sunscreen at just about every store – Sun Bum with SPF50 – would help to prevent sunburn and be healthy to use. While not intentionally picking on this one brand, a simple scan of the tube’s barcode with the Yuka app reveals that this product contains three high-risk ingredients including Octocrylene, BHT and Methylisothiazolinone, three moderate risk ingredients and other low-risk and risk-free ingredients.
There is good news, though. The Yuka app shows the user healthier alternatives. After scanning nearly 20 sunscreens at the store, a sunscreen by Native was deemed safe by Yuka to use on people of all ages.
Now back to those chips and ice cream.
Kettle Cooked Chips Original by Cape Cod don’t contain any harmful ingredients. Sure, they’re chips – they contain fat and salt – but that’s what you’d expect from a salty snack. This brand turns out to be better than other well-known brands.
One mom scanned nearly every container of ice cream at the local grocery store. Most contained texturing agents, which are considered high-risk by Yuka. Eventually, the mom found a healthier frozen sweet treat for her kids. Organic Very Berry Lemonade popsicles by JonnyPops rated “good with no harmful ingredients.”
If one of your favorite products contains very harmful ingredients, the Yuka app will allow you to quickly send an email to the manufacturer by simply clicking on a link while using the app. Maybe if they get enough emails, they’ll change to healthier options.
The Think Dirty app is similar to Yuka; however, it generally focuses more on skin care and beauty products.
Transitioning to safer and healthier food and skin care products is easier than most think. Just have your phone out while shopping … and start scanning!
