The truth about HVP and the FDA -The truth is coming out & the FDA is having to change!

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The truth about HVP and the FDA

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) announced yesterday that it is recalling hundreds of random food products in response to traces of salmonella found at the plant that manufactures HVP, hydrolyzed vegetable protein. HVP is commonly used as a flavor enhancer in dips, soups and snack foods. Because HVP is a food additive used by food production companies in mainstream processed foods, it shows up in thousands of grocery products and the consumer is unaware they're eating this ingredient (remember MSG anybody?).

Mike , Editor of NaturalNews.com, wrote about the dangers of HVP back in 2004 in his book, Grocery Warning, which warned consumers about a dozen potentially hazardous food ingredients. In Grocery Warning, Mr. discusses how HVP is just one of many sources of hidden monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG has been proven to be a potentially dangerous neurotoxin that can lead to eating addictions, obesity, brain cancer, endocrine system disorders and infertility to name a few. Mr. , in Grocery Warning, warns consumers to avoid food products with the words "hydrolyzed" and "autolyzed" in the package labeling. TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) can also be another hidden source of MSG in processed foods. For additional information, Dr. Blaylock, neurosurgeon and author, wrote a book in 1994 called Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills that discusses the toxic effects of a number of common food additives including MSG and aspartame.According to the FDA, when HVP is "sterile" and not contaminated with salmonella, HVP is considered safe for human consumption. This proves the ignorance of the FDA as HVP, along with TVP and yeast extract, is a huge source of hidden MSG in your foods with or without salmonella being present. In fact, with tens of millions poisoning their brains with diet sodas, why is the FDA going crazy over a miniscule risk of salmonella contamination? Why are they not worried about the toxic effect of sodas but are recalling thousands of products because of a possible salmonella contamination, especially when the cooking process typically destroys the salmonella?

After looking at the long list of random foods currently being recalled in this latest food scare, most being heavily processed and/or "junk" foods, I have to ask why we can't easily do without products such as "Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger Potato Chips" and "Family Faves Taco Night Chips"? I mean, seriously, if you crave a cheeseburger, make yourself a cheeseburger. If one of your family favorites is tacos, then make one night a week "Taco Night" and make an easy batch of tacos rather than buying a bag of taco-flavored chips loaded with HPV. "Follow Your Heart Ready-to-Eat Meals" - meals that require no heating, cooking or other preparation? Really? Are these the same ready-to-eat meals (REMs) being fed to our military people overseas? Has the FDA looked into the HVP content in those?

While we blindly trust the FDA to keep our food safe, they currently have no authority to order recalls. In this recent case, the FDA investigated the plant that manufactures HVP on February 12th and not only found salmonella but also found records dating back to January 21st indicating salmonella contamination. While the FDA politely asked the plant to voluntarily recall its products from January 21st, the company simply continued to distribute their contaminated products to consumers. Finally in coordination with the manufacturer, the FDA announced a recall on March 4th, weeks after finding the salmonella contamination.

Fresh Produce Aisle

Of course, the best way for consumers to take control of what we eat and avoid the dangers of eating processed foods possibly contaminated with HVP, salmonella, TVP or aspartame is to buy as many of your grocery products from the "perimeter" aisles of the grocery stores. These aisles are where you'll typically find fresh produce, fresh baked goods, fresh meat/poultry/seafood and dairy products such as cheese, eggs and yogurt. It's when you get to those center aisles, such as "Snack Foods," "Soda," and "Prepared Foods," that we began to let these toxins creep into our diets. And we all know we're doing this without having the FDA belatedly announce that a lot of what we eat is unhealthy. Every time I purchase a bag of chips (although I can truthfully say I've never bought anything called "Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger Potato Chips) I know I'm buying a food item that is not healthy in many ways, and not just because the FDA has said it's possibly contaminated with salmonella-contaminated HVP. The more colors of fruits and vegetables we eat, the more healthy viatmins and antioxidents we get. And while the items in the Snack Food Aisle photo above are just as colorful as the items in the Fresh Produce Aisle photo, we don't eat the colorful packaging of the snack foods like we do with the fresh fruits and vegetables. With such beautiful weather, check out your local Santa Clara farmers markets for local, fresh produce, cheeses, nuts, breads and other goodies that have no HVP to worry about!

For easy recipes and weekly meal planning with corresponding grocery lists, check out the San Easy Meals Examiner. Here's to a good, healthy, long life!

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