7 min read
What is ultra processed food? A plain-English guide
Ultra-processed foods make up more than half of US calories. Learn the definition, real grocery examples, and how to spot them on your next shopping trip.
Food Label & Ingredient Guides
Practical, research-aware guides to reading food labels, understanding ingredients and additives, comparing food scanner apps, and choosing healthier grocery products.
7 min readFoods with seed oils: how to spot them at the store
Seed oils hide in hundreds of everyday products. Learn which foods contain them, what to look for on the label, and how to make faster choices at the grocery store.
7 min readSeed oils in packaged foods: what US shoppers should know
Canola, soybean, and sunflower oils show up in nearly every aisle. Here is what the research actually says and how to spot them on labels.
7 min readHigh fructose corn syrup: what US shoppers need to know
HFCS shows up in hundreds of everyday products, from bread to salad dressing. Here is what the science says and how to spot it on labels.
7 min readArtificial sweeteners in food: what US shoppers should know
Sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium — artificial sweeteners are everywhere in diet snacks and drinks. Here's what the research actually says.
7 min readNatural flavors in food: what the label really means
That two-word phrase on your ingredient list hides more than you think. Here is what natural flavors actually are and how to decode them at the grocery store.
6 min readMaltodextrin in food: what US shoppers need to know
Maltodextrin is a ultra-processed starch derivative hiding in hundreds of everyday products. Here is what it actually does, why its glycemic index matters, and how to spot it.
6 min readCarrageenan in food: what shoppers need to know
Carrageenan is a common thickener found in almond milk, dairy products, and more. Here is what the science says and how to spot it on labels.
6 min readCalcium propionate in bread: what shoppers should know
Calcium propionate is the most common bread preservative in the US. Here is what it does, what the research says, and how to spot it on labels.