Shopping
Expiration dates: "best before" and "use by" are not the same
The date on packaging is perceived as a boundary between "safe" and "unsafe," although it means different things for different products.
Blog
Every article takes a claim you have already heard about food and follows the mechanism behind it — what actually happens in the body, what the research supports, and where the claim stops being true.
Ingredients and additives
Phosphates: why they are in sausage, cottage cheese, and soda
Phosphorus is an essential element: it is a component of bones, cell membranes, and molecules that transport energy.
Shopping
Food standards in different countries: why the same product varies
The same brand in two countries may have a different composition, and this is not always about cost-cutting.
Ingredients and additives
How manufacturers hide additives in the ingredient list
A short ingredient list sells better than a long one, and manufacturers know it.
Shopping
Packaging and freshness: what vacuum, modified atmosphere, and inflated bags do
Packaging does more than just hold a product—it is part of the shelf life.
Ingredients and additives
Preservatives: why they are needed and what questions arise about them
The word "preservative" on an ingredient label is often seen as a negative, and products "without preservatives" sell better.
Shopping
Frozen foods: when they are just as good as fresh
Freezing is often seen as a compromise: fresh is better, and frozen is only for when there is no choice.
Ingredients and additives
Sudan dyes: industrial paint found in spices
Sudan I, II, III, and IV are synthetic dyes for industrial use: they are used to color waxes, oils, solvents, and polishes.
Ingredients and additives
Food dyes: which ones are restricted and why
The color of food carries information: it is used to judge ripeness, freshness, and taste even before the first bite.
This article is for general information. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription for treatment or a diet, and it does not replace a consultation with your doctor. If you have a health condition, are pregnant, take medication, or follow a diet prescribed to you, decisions about food belong with your doctor.
Figures from regulations, guidelines and studies are given as they stood when this article was prepared and may since have changed; check them against the primary sources. This article is not advertising, an offer, or individual advice, and neither the author nor the site owner is responsible for decisions taken on the basis of it.