Extra (and unexpected) ingredients.

[Packard]

I bought dried apricots the other day from BJ’s Club (Wellsley Farms brand).  I knew that they had some preservatives.  I was surprised that they added “natural flavors” and “sunflower oil”. 

I was, in fact surprised to see any “ingredients” list at all.  I expected only to see “sulfur dioxide added as a preservative”.

Below is the list of ingredients.  I am starting to believe I have been rather naive.  I wonder what raisins’ ingredient list looks like.

DRIED APRICOTS, NATURAL FLAVORS, SUNFLOWER OIL*, SULFUR DIOXIDE AND/OR SODIUM BISULFITE AND/OR POTASSIUM SORBATE ADDED AS PRESERVATIVES.'

 

[blues]

Many years ago was channel surfing and landed on a channel where some body building competition was going on. While every other constant was unbelievable and athletic,  there was this slightly older looking gentleman competing with all others. It kinda made you think why is this guy even bothering to compete, while he was almost as good it was clear that he was not good enough to have a shot at winning. Once the competition got done, Arnold Schwarzenegger walked up on stage congratulated everyone, but singled out this older gentleman and asked him Bob, you were amazing out there. What is the secret of your success? Turns out while others were in their 20's, Bob was 92 ! And Bob's answer to Arnold's question was "IF MAN MAKES IT, DONT EAT IT". So very true ! In this day and age trying to find something unprocessed to eat is such a challenge!
So, No -  not surprising  and it's expected. Thanks for sharing. Stay healthy my friends.

 

[Ron B]

I always figured when they say "natural flavors" that is just a legal catch-phrase to cover any bugs or anything else that may have naturally fallen in.  If I just say "dried apricots" then the bugs are not covered.

I was an accountant at a national meat packing company once, and there are some things I no longer eat.   

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I always figured when they say "natural flavors" that is just a legal catch-phrase to cover any bugs or anything else that may have naturally fallen in.  If I just say "dried apricots" then the bugs are not covered.

I was an accountant at a national meat packing company once, and there are some things I no longer eat. 

Yes, that is a wholly unnecessary (should be illegal) use of a term. Literally everything has a "natural flavor". The bottom of my foot has a natural flavor, but I don't want it in my food.

The old adage of "You don't want to see how the sausage is made" is very true.

When I was a kid, my dad sold food processing equipment, everything from planters and combines to conveyors inside of canneries. When I was about 10, I got to go into a Kal-Kan plant with him. It was a working facility, with a problem to be solved, so we walked out on the main floor. It was an after-hours situation, no one was working, but the "works" were on display.
When they say things on labels like "by-products" it literally means everything. Chicken, in dog food, is all of it, except the feathers. That's probably because they have another use for those feathers.