When it comes to processed foods, you can never be too about how they're made regardless of what is listed on the ingredients list.
Manufacturers will find ways to include unhealthy additives into products to produce larger quantities at a lower cost.
Food fraud is a practice that occurs in almost every processed food, from meat to spices, but companies are extremely good at keeping it under wraps.
More recently, experts are warning consumers about an alarming case of food fraud concerning garlic powder.
Professor Christopher Elliott, director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast became suspicious of China's rise in garlic sales despite colder temperatures. While digging for the truth, Elliot made some startling discoveries.
Click on the next page to read about Elliot's alarming findings.
A bit of investigation revealed that manufacturers may be tampering garlic powder with chalk and talcum powder.
Elliott and his team are still in search for solid proof to support his suspicions but being that spices are classified as high-risk for fraud, it's just a matter of time until they uncover the truth.
Not only is it concerning that customers aren't getting what they pay for, they're are some serious health implications that come with consuming hidden ingredients. The toxins in the substances disguised as garlic can harm the immune system and even cause death in those who have allergies.
To protect yourself and your family from tainted garlic powder, make sure you only buy brands you trust with a clearly labelled ingredients list.
This isn't the first time, the food expert is warning people about "fake" versions of food. In 2016, his research found that oregano in the U.K. contained olive and myrtle leaves. So he may be onto something after all.
Do you think Elliott is right? Let us know in the comments!
[Source: Food & Wine]