Reading Labels 101.
Photo via pinterest.
As consumers everything we purchase comes with a label either listing ingredients or material content. These labels are usually long, in fine print, hard to understand- and most of us skip reading them. But, it is important to know what you are putting in and on your body, as both impact your overall health and well-being. In true Mooi fashion, less is always more. The shorter the list of contents on the product label, the better. Below are Mooi’s top 3 things to look for on food, cosmetic and clothing labels.
3 things to avoid on food labels.
It can be overwhelming going into a grocery store and looking for the healthiest option, and food labels are often no help. They can be extremely deceiving, and the FDA’s regulations don’t help this matter as many labels have unclear meanings. Products are commonly labeled and marketed with what they don’t have, implying that they are healthy when that is not the case. I challenge you to take the time to read your food labels more carefully the next time you go shopping. Here are a few things to look out for when you do.
“Enriched”, “Fortified”, or any similar terms- When a product is labeled as “enriched”, what it really means is that it has been so overly processed that all the nutrients it naturally contains have been stripped. The manufacturer then adds processed “nutrients” back into the product so they are able to sell it as a “real food”. In short, enriched is code for over processed and is something you want to avoid.
Long lists of ingredients that you don’t recognize- Staying true to Mooi’s philosophies, less is more. Look for real, whole foods with the shortest list of ingredients possible. The longer the list, the more likely it is to be full of fillers, preservatives, sugars, and other unnecessary ingredients. Keep in mind, ingredients are listed in order of quantity in a product, from highest to lowest. Stick to short ingredient lists with whole foods listed as the first 3 ingredients and try to avoid anything with ingredients that you don’t recognize or understand.
Sugars and artificial sweeteners- You knew this one was coming. Refined sugars and artificial sweeteners are arguably some of the worst, most inflammatory ingredients you can be putting in your body and are linked to a plethora of diseases along with poor gut health, cognitive decline, and obesity. Sugar and artificial sweeteners go by countless names, many of which you likely don’t recognize. Food manufactures often use this to their advantage and disguise the actual amount in their products. The main ingredient to look out for and avoid on your food labels will usually end in sugar or syrup.
Besides sugars and syrups, here is a list of other ingredients that are commonly used on food labels that translate to sugar:
Honey, agave, barley malt, molasses, cane juice crystals, lactose, corn sweetener, crystalline fructose, dextran, malt powder, ethyl mall, fructose, fruit juice concentrate, galactose, glucose, disaccharides, maltodextrin, and maltose.
Some artificial sweeteners approved by the FDA to watch for on your food labels include:
Acesulfame K (brand names Sunnett and Sweet One), Advantame, Aspartame (brand names Equal and NaturaSweet Natural), Neotame (brand name Newtame), Saccharin (brand names Sweet ‘N Low and Sugar Twin), and Sucralose (brand name Splenda).
Be mindful that sugar-free and naturally sugar-free are very different. Artificial sweeteners are no better than sugar. Most organic grocery stores have naturally sugar free options and natural sweeteners that make great alternatives.
3 things to avoid on cosmetic and skin care labels.
Fragrance- Who doesn’t love a product that smells nice? Unfortunately, fragrance in any product that you are putting on your skin is usually full of toxins and chemicals. Companies are not required to disclose fragrance ingredients on product labels in order to protect the company’s “trade secrets” and even unscented products often contain fragrance to mask odour. Be mindful that the words fragrance, aroma, or parfum usually represent a plethora of hidden chemicals, often including phthalates (shown to be hormone disruptors, toxic to reproduction and impair brain development) and synthetic musk which are harmful to our health and should be avoided when possible.
Ingredients with “fluoro” in the name (or PFAS)- PFAS chemicals are also known as “forever chemicals” because they are extremely persistent in the environment and our bodies. They are often added to personal care and cosmetic products such as moisturizers, dental floss, foundation, and concealer to make them water proof or give them a slippery feel. These chemicals are shown to accumulate in the body and have been linked to cancers, thyroid disease, and other adverse health effects. Definitely something to check your labels for and avoid when possible.
Anything else on the “Dirty Dozen” list- Research shows that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals. Every year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts together an updated list of the “Dirty Dozen” chemicals to avoid. Anything on this list should be avoided when possible.
BHA and BHT
Coal tar dyes
DEA related ingredients
Dibutyl phthylate
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Parabens
Parfum or fragrance
PEG compounds
Petrolatum
Siloxanes
Sodium laureth sulfate
Triclosan
It can be hard to fully avoid all of these things, but the more knowledge you have, the better you can try. Like everything in life, aim for an 80/20 balance. Try and opt for the more natural products 80% of the time and it will have less of an impact on your body using the conventional products the other 20% of the time. It is important to be educated on what is in the products you are putting on your body so you can be in control of your decisions.
3 things you want to see on clothing labels to support sustainable shopping.
For clothing labels, I have chosen to put focus on 3 things you should look for to support sustainable shopping. If you follow Mooi on Instagram, then you have probably read my posts on shopping your own closet and refining your wardrobe by buying less but better pieces. The fashion industry leaves a huge negative impact on our environment, with 85% of all textiles winding up in dumps each year. Buying sustainable fabrics and supporting sustainable brands is important now more than ever when you shop. The alternative to this is shopping your own closet, thrifting, and continuing a circular cycle with your clothes. Natural fibres are a great choice when shopping sustainable because they are biodegradable and waste from natural fibres can be recycled. Natural fibres include cotton, wool, silk, flax, hemp, jute, camel hair, and angora. Studies suggest that synthetic fibres add to the toxic load on our bodies and our environment, yet another reason to avoid them and stick to natural, sustainable fibres. Look for clothes with a 100% natural fibre content if sustainability is important to you, but be mindful that just because something is made from natural fibres it doesn’t mean that the manufacturing process was sustainable. Research brands before you buy, and look for ones that reduce their ecological footprint. Some brands that are well known for this include Kotn, Everlane, Eileen Fisher and Uncle Studios. Below are some eco-friendly labels you should look for next time you are shopping.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)- This is one of the most important labels to look out for on your clothing. The FSC is dedicated to protecting the world’s forests and forest wildlife-one of our fastest depleting natural resources. They do a lot of work in Brazil protecting our rainforests as well as all over the globe helping to protect our forests and the wildlife living in them.
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)- The BCI is the largest cotton sustainability program in the world, producing 5.6 million tonnes of sustainable cotton last year, which accounted for about 22% of global cotton production. Cotton production is extremely hard on our environment, taking 20,000 litres of water to produce ONE pair of jeans and ONE t-shirt, adding to the struggle for fresh drinking water along with the crops being hard on soil erosion. If you purchase products with a BCI label, you will be contributing not only to sustainable cotton but also to upholding proper labour laws for workers.
Fairtrade- This is a well known one on labels, recognized by 93% of consumers, Fairtrade ensures that the product you are buying is ethical. Fairtrade plays a large role in improving the lives of the people who are making our products and being vocal to the public about fair labour laws. They work with their grassroots team to lobby the government, ensuring that labour laws are being upheld, giving the power back to the workers. Definitely an important one to look out for the next time you are shopping.
Fast fashion can be more affordable than sustainable brands, but Mooi’s philosophy is “buy less, buy better”. In doing so, you not only get better quality clothing that will last longer but you also support sustainable shopping.
*One thing that should be avoided when shopping, is when an item of clothing has an un-named fabric in the fabric content. This usually will look something like “other” or “other materials”. If the manufacturer didn’t want to disclose what “other” is on the label, it probably isn’t something you want on your body.
It can be challenging to live a 100% clean life but my hope is that this blog post will help educate you to make informed decisions as a consumer when it comes to the things that you are putting in and on your body. If you can aim to live your life with an 80/20 or 70/30 balance while making conscious choices about the products you purchase, that is a win by Mooi’s standards.
