I’m not a big people person. I’m also not a big grocery-shopping person. The reason for not liking the grocery shopping experience is that we must encounter an insane amount of inconsiderate, often clueless people walking the grocery aisles in a daze. Not what I call a joyous occasion.
Now disregarding the inconsiderate people, another reason I’m not too fond of grocery shopping is all the lies I’m bombarded with regarding food marketing. From Keto bread to Reduced Fat, to Cage Free eggs, blah, blah blah.
The marketing from Skippy Peanut Butter is what’s got my goat today. I grew up on Skippy Peanut Butter and didn’t care when I was 12 that it might have FAT. Today I don’t care that it has fat. Well, one, because I don’t eat it, but two, I don’t. The contents of PUFA’s or polyunsaturated fats aren’t the issue. The issue is that the makers of Skippy Peanut Butter (Hormel Foods, yes, the makers of Spam) think it’s a good idea to label Skippy with a big bright label that says “Reduced fat.” Like we care that Skippy Peanut Butter has reduced fat.
Many years ago, I took a photo of Skippy Peanut Butter because the then owner of the Skippy Brand, Unilever, had labeled it “As Always No Trans Fat .” I knew then that Unilever was walking a thin line because on the back of the label is Hydrogenated Oils. Technically, Trans Fats are partially-Hydrogenated oils, not Hydrogenated oils.
Now to a clueless, unsuspecting grocery shopper, this goes unnoticed by someone who has studied food for over 35 years. I feel I need to take a photo of this occasion. You probably are thinking, yep, Rocco has finally lost it. He’s being fitted for his straight jacket as he’s writing this post. Bear with me for a moment.
I believe the new owner, Hormel Foods, should stop trying to deceive you. Skippy Peanut Butter is now touting that it has reduced fat. However, America’s favorite peanut butter may have reduced fat. But If you ignore the front label and turn the jar around, you will find bright as day other harmful yet mundane sounding ingredients like Corn Syrup, Soy Protein Concentrate, Hydrogenated oils, and mono & diglycerides. No matter what Hormel Foods’ marketing department tells you, Hydrogenated oils are still harmful to your body.
Inflammation causes most heart issues, cancer, and diabetes—the big three. Hydrogenated oils, just like partially-hydrogenated oils, cause inflammation. Inflammation can cause many other ailments, such as joint pain, gout, headaches, and muscle aches.
Technically, the FDA banned partially-hydrogenated oil or trans-fat in any food, not “hydrogenated oils,” which in studies is just as bad. The ban was supposed to go into effect on June 18, 2018, but some foods were grandfathered in until January 2020 and, in many cases, 2021; this is a big but, but companies just started using fully hydrogenated oils to get around the ban, and the FDA happily allowed this deception.
Knowing what’s in the food you believe may be healthy is essential. Just because a label states something, it doesn’t mean it’s true. Do your research, read the labels, and always know what you put in your body. It’s your health, no one else’s.