http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/02/11/tips-for-obtaining-ingredient-information-from-food-companies/ The Vegetarian Resource Group Blog Wed, 01 May 2013 17:20:38 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/02/11/tips-for-obtaining-ingredient-information-from-food-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-73093 Janie Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:14:16 +0000 http://www.vrg.org/blog/?p=4204#comment-73093 Kate, I have also ran into that. And often they don't like to share info on things like "spices" or "modified food starch". I agree with Melanie. When they don't share I choose not to buy, since I can't be sure the item is something I want to consume. Kate, I have also ran into that. And often they don’t like to share info on things like “spices” or “modified food starch”. I agree with Melanie. When they don’t share I choose not to buy, since I can’t be sure the item is something I want to consume.

]]> http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/02/11/tips-for-obtaining-ingredient-information-from-food-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-71679 Melanie Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:41:22 +0000 http://www.vrg.org/blog/?p=4204#comment-71679 Kate, I haven't run in to that response before. I would politely tell them that is not an acceptable answer, and you won't be buying the product until you can sure it aligns with your health and ethical positions. Then, I would try to find a contact name for the President or Chair of the Board or someone very high up in the organization, and re-iterate your experience and response. I did contact Old El Paso regarding the natural flavor in their refried beans. It took them 2 weeks to get back to me, but they did leave a phone message as I requested. It would be nice to know if anyone else has contacted this company about this product. Just the fact that we contact these companies shows that there is a growing market concerned about animal ingredients. In addition to the questions the article lists above, I think it is also important to ask about insect or insect products (think about the Starbucks fiasco about using cochineal extract, from an insect, in their strawberry smoothies last year). Kate, I haven’t run in to that response before. I would politely tell them that is not an acceptable answer, and you won’t be buying the product until you can sure it aligns with your health and ethical positions. Then, I would try to find a contact name for the President or Chair of the Board or someone very high up in the organization, and re-iterate your experience and response.
I did contact Old El Paso regarding the natural flavor in their refried beans. It took them 2 weeks to get back to me, but they did leave a phone message as I requested. It would be nice to know if anyone else has contacted this company about this product.
Just the fact that we contact these companies shows that there is a growing market concerned about animal ingredients.
In addition to the questions the article lists above, I think it is also important to ask about insect or insect products (think about the Starbucks fiasco about using cochineal extract, from an insect, in their strawberry smoothies last year).

]]> http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/02/11/tips-for-obtaining-ingredient-information-from-food-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-71421 Kate Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:52:04 +0000 http://www.vrg.org/blog/?p=4204#comment-71421 When I contacted ConAgra about whether the cheese in one of their products contained rennet or not and they answered that the information was "proprietary and a trade secret." I hadn't heard that claim before when researching cheese ingredients -- is that a wall the VRG runs into often? When I contacted ConAgra about whether the cheese in one of their products contained rennet or not and they answered that the information was “proprietary and a trade secret.” I hadn’t heard that claim before when researching cheese ingredients — is that a wall the VRG runs into often?

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