We get it, there is a lot of conflicting information out there about the ingredients used in some of your favorite food and beverage, household and personal care products. With so many mixed messages online in the media, it can be hard to cut through the noise, leaving you with even more questions than before. That’s where we come in…

no agendas, no scare tactics, just science-based facts

empowering you with the information to confidently make decisions that best fit the needs of yourself and your family.

WHAT’S TRENDING

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what others are saying. In the spirit of consumer transparency, these individuals aren’t being paid by the Consumer Brands Association for their opinions.

You don’t have to have a degree in organic chemistry to understand how ingredients work together to make up our food. Many ingredients are critical to ensuring  product safety, shelf-life and the fortification of nutrients. And while some may seem hard to pronounce at first glance, the same can be said for many chemical compounds found in fruits and vegetables. And that’s just one convenient narrative spun in an attempt to confuse consumers.

Click on each myth below to get the REAL facts.

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UNDERSTANDING INGREDIENTS

While some ingredients may appear unfamiliar at first glance, they are often components known to support good nutrition and help keep food safe. For instance, riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2, is a nutrient frequently found in breads, milk and flour that helps to convert food into energy, promoting cellular function, growth, and development.

  • LABELING

    The FDA requires uniform labeling to ensure consistency, accurate comparisons and alignment with Dietary Reference Intakes. That’s why you see scientific terms for ingredients across food, beverage, household and personal care products. Each label must include an ingredient statement listing the common or usual name of every ingredient in descending order of predominance. Some ingredients, like “spices,” may be grouped under general names, while others, especially major allergens, must follow strict, specific labeling requirements.

  • PRESERVATIVES

    Without preservatives, many foods wouldn’t stay fresh for long enough to reach the table and some products would expire long before being used. Natural preservatives, such as salt and vinegar, and chemical preservatives, such as benzoic acid or sorbic acid, help protect flavor, prevent spoilage and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. They also extend the shelf life of the household and personal care products you use daily.

  • NUTRIENTS

    Many everyday products are fortified with essential nutrients such as niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, or thiamine hydrochloride, also known as vitamin B1, making it easier for consumers to get essential nutrition and helping to fill common dietary gaps.

  • EMULSIFIERS & STABILIZERS

    Emulsifiers blend ingredients, while stabilizers keep them from separating, helping to maintain a uniform texture, improve "mouth-feel" and support longer shelf life. Together, stabilizers and emulsifiers, such as polysorbates, an ingredient used to help oil and water mix smoothly, help to deliver high-quality products that consumers depend on daily. 

  • SWEETENERS

    Sweeteners do more than add flavor, they help to keep foods moist, extend shelf life and could reduce calories. Sweeteners such as fructose, an ingredient naturally found in fruit, provide sweetness to your favorite treats.

  • CONSUMER TRANSPARENCY

    For over a decade, the consumer packaged goods industry has worked to increase consumer transparency through the use of multiple industry-backed initiatives. SmartLabel, a digital tool, empowers consumers to go beyond the product label. With a scan of a QR code found on many food, beverage, personal care, household, pet care, dietary supplement and OTC products, consumers can get more information into everything from ingredients definitions to how to recycle the packaging. Facts up Front, another transparency initiative, highlights important nutrition information in a simple and easy-to-use format. These labels, displayed on the front of food and beverage packages, provide consumers with information such as the number of calories and the amount of saturated fat, sodium or added sugars in each serving of a food or beverage product, helping to promote nutrition literacy.

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