What to look for when buying food in the market?

 What to look for when buying food in the market?

What to look for when buying goods in the market? Almost everyone looks at the date on which the goods are put out and the specified fee. But looking at these two alone is not enough.

If you want to avoid buying inedible items that are spreading like wildfire, you should check whether the information about the food is mentioned or not when buying any goods. Only the material that mentions information about the food is considered quality. Such information is called a food label.

Why is it mandatory to look at the food label?

With increasing marketization, many packaged and packaged processed foods are being sold and distributed in the market. Such foods are mouth-watering in taste, and salt, fat, and sugar are used in large quantities to increase their taste.

The general public is attracted to it because it does not take much time to prepare and can be eaten directly after opening the packet. Preservatives are also used to preserve the food for a long time. Which is the standard for how much it can be used and how much it can be eaten daily.

However, in some cases, manufacturers use more than the specified amount or do not mention the ingredients on the label.

In such a case, it is necessary to read and analyze the information provided on the packet to understand whether the food is healthy or if it has a negative effect on the body when consumed in large quantities.

What to look for?

– Choose foods that are processed or refined in the least amount possible and do not contain other artificial ingredients.

– When buying sweets, look for added sugar on the label. It states how many types of sweeteners are included. If sugar or corn syrup is not added, that is a good indicator. Corn syrup is corn starch. Excessive use of which promotes obesity and chronic diseases.

– Check the nutritional information on the labels. When buying food, pay attention to the ‘sugar’ section on the nutrition label. If the manufacturer does not list sugar or corn syrup in a sweet dish on its label, it should be understood that the food is not beneficial for consumption from the point of view of nutritional information.

– You should read carefully about artificial colors and flavors added to food.

– You should look for certificates such as trusted food safety and quality seals that certify organic and non-organic projects in imported foods. In the case of food products produced in Nepal, you should look for the mentioned certificates such as the trusted food safety and quality seal issued by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control.

– Avoid drinking beverages with a lot of sugar. Sweetened beverages such as soda, flavored juices, and some sports drinks also contain added sugar, especially corn syrup. So when you go to the market, choose water, unsweetened tea, or fresh fruit juice instead.

– You should look carefully at products labeled ‘low-fat’. Manufacturers often try to balance the taste by adding extra sugar or corn syrup to foods labeled ‘low-fat’. Therefore, you can see how much sugar is in the ‘low-fat’ label.

– Let’s buy as little processed and packaged foods as possible. Many processed foods, such as soft drinks, condiments, baked goods, fast food, breakfast cereals, yogurts, and candies, sauces, salad dressings, and breads, often contain low levels of sugar.

– In some cases, labels that mention words like low-fat or natural can also be misleading. So, you should think about how much benefit you are getting when buying such items.