I was becoming very aware numerically before in Australia then in UK I had to get familiar with the names of additives. The resulting effects are my main concern & its helpful I've found a phone app (Additive Alert) that I can enter either number or chemical name into. In England I picked up a packet of Hula Hoops (crisps), an old childhood favourite (as you could wear them on your fingers before eating). However the last listed ingredient is Potassium Chloride (508)... which can cause a handful of ills, but most scarily says must not be given to children!! These would be school lunchbox staples in the UK.
When we were in the UK I couldn't be as bold to assume that our staple basic breakfast options would be sugar-free there just because they are here.
Good job I wasn't - as standard Weetabix was 4.4g/100g whereas Shredded Wheat was 0.7g, a much better option - 100% Wheat (ok for kids at present). Rice Bubbles here are 9g, their UK equivalent are 9.7g so marginally more. This is more than 5g, my usual cut-off so I always opt for just puffed rice from the health food section instead. Porridge Oats were just 1g.
Now we are home from our holidays we have started FAILSAFE Elimination diet in ernest. This has necessitated me to be very label literate, I'm discovering new things all the time & limiting our food options as I do. Following foodie forums has led to queries & therefore further interrogation by myself. Being sugar-free one of the key alternative ingredients I use in baking is Dextrose (glucose in powderform). One of the forums I follow posted a site which sells Dextrose, sulphate-free... I didn't know it wasn't... so is this an upsell on their behalf or is the Dextrose I use not sulphate-free? For strict Failsafe it would need to be. I contacted the manufacturers & they wrote back that their Certificate of Analysis for the Dextrose states that the Sulphur Dioxide Residual is less than 0.01 grams/kg. Therefore I would assume trace or negligible. It is not listed as an ingredient, nor is its numeric equivalent 220. The only ingredient is 100% Dextrose Monohydrate. Its not like we eat huge amounts of this stuff, I use less than a cupful in a whole batch of baked goods which are eaten over a few days, not daily treats. But to question what we are ingesting is wise.
We have been recommended to follow FAILSAFE strictly, which means eating additive free & only items that are LOW in salicylates, amines & glutamates. Even with a clear list from the dietician supplied from the RPAH Allergy Department, shopping is a minefield & so much more time consuming than being simply sugar-free. I now need to read labels in detail to avoid a multitude of nasties & its not as easy as just shopping the supermarket perimeter & fresh foods, as at present pears are the only fruit we are allowed whilst on elimination, along with limited veg, plus most supermarket meats apparently can include preservatives or are older (vac packed). It necessitates daily visits to the Butcher for the freshest cuts & regular supermarket trips to keep full stock of the pantry staples to create meals with ingredients I have never used in these ways before. I do not particularly enjoy shopping with preschoolers at the best of times, let alone more frequently or when I'm under pressure to buy specific foods without distraction. The diet benefits have obviously not kicked in just yet as I really lost my cool yesterday as the irritations of the experience built up. We're at day 8 today & the lightbulb moment has not yet happened. I know it takes most people around 2 weeks before they see changes. I also know I could be making some mistakes on the shopping given my distractions & I will endeavour to be more prepared before I hit the shops again.
The good news is the main meals I have created each day have been readily accepted by the 4yo, even with the vegetables he's never really tried before in. The 2yo, well she's 2 & eating is no longer her forte. Thats said she's eaten better this week than I expected, given I've taken away some of her favourite "go to" foods.
