We, as Indians or Indo-Canadians, can’t imagine a life without our favourite foods. But do you know the samosas you eat from the corner shop, or the naan you get from your nearby restaurant, are not fresh? These items are made in factories, packed, and kept in stores for many days, or even months, before we buy them. To make this possible, companies add special chemicals called preservatives and artificial flavours. 

Biscuits, bread, pickles, and chips often have preservatives so they can stay on shelves for a long time. Artificial flavours are added to labels to give food a certain taste, even if the real ingredient is missing. For example, a mango drink may have a lot of real mango, but have the exact taste that comes from only chemicals that are not good for your health.  

But the good news is that you can find out if your food has preservatives or artificial flavours by reading the label on the packet. Or you can avoid putting these chemicals into your body by saying goodbye to junk food and hello to homemade tiffin service. For more information on preservatives and artificial flavours, how they affect your health, and what you can do about it, please read this blog until the end!

How to Spot Preservatives & Artificial Flavours in Food? 

More often than not, preservatives and artificial flavours are written in tiny words in small print on the food packet. Here is how you can find them: 

Read the Ingredients List 

Locate the food label and look for chemical names like sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, calcium propionate, BHA, and BHT. These are common preservatives, and artificial flavours are mentioned as (nature-identical flavour or flavouring substances). If you see them on the label, you must avoid such food items, as they may not be good for your health. 

Check for “E” Numbers 

Some preservatives and additives are shown as E-numbers like E211 (sodium benzoate) or E202 (potassium sorbate). These numbers are common in biscuits, sauces, juices, and soft drinks. If you see these numbers on the food label, avoid buying that food product or consider alternatives or homemade food items. 

Be Careful with Labels Mentioning “Flavoured” 

If the packet of the food item says “mango-flavoured,” “strawberry-flavoured,” or “masala-flavoured,” it may not have the real ingredient, but only an artificial flavour that may not be good for your health. Natural flavours are usually listed as “natural flavour” or “spice extract.” And if you see such texts on food items, you already know what you have to do! 

Watch Out for Long Shelf Life 

If a product can stay fresh for many months without refrigeration, it almost always has preservatives. To ensure you don’t consume many chemicals and stay healthy, try cooking for yourself or opt for Punjabi tiffin in Surrey.

Also Read: Healthy Foods Boost Your Energy Naturally

Why Avoid Foods with Preservatives & Artificial Flavours? 

Now you know how to spot preservatives and artificial flavours in packaged food. You can avoid such food items easily. But the question is, why should you avoid eating such food items? Here is a list of reasons why food with preservatives and artificial flavours is not good for your health and why you should avoid them: 

• Our body is made to digest real food like fruits, vegetables, grains, and spices, not unnatural food items. Chemicals in preservatives and artificial flavours are hard to digest. 

• Some people get allergies, skin rashes, or breathing problems from certain preservatives. Also, eating too much processed food may lead to stomach troubles. 

• Most packaged foods with preservatives and artificial flavours are low in minerals, vitamins, and fibre. For better nutrition, one should resort to fresh home-cooked meals or healthy tiffin meals. 

• Artificial flavours can make food taste good even if the real ingredient is missing or is present in very small amounts. For example, a mango drink might have no real mango, but only flavour chemicals. 

Pro Tip: To ensure you stay physically, mentally, and emotionally fit, opt for healthy tiffin meals from Ashfood, the best Indian tiffin service in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. 

Eat Healthy Tiffin Meals to Stay Healthy and Fit 

One of the easiest ways to avoid too many preservatives and artificial flavours is to eat food made fresh at home. But if you can’t cook on your own, you can opt for healthy tiffin meals. There are many tiffin providers that deliver homemade food to the doorstep of their customers. You can opt for such services to get nutritious and delicious meals delivered to your desired location. A healthy tiffin meal usually includes: 

• Fresh rotis 

• Seasonal sabzi 

• Home-cooked dal 

• Cut fruits or salad 

• Nuts or roasted chana 

For high-quality, nutritious, and delicious meals in Surrey, contact Ashfood, the best tiffin service dedicated to providing meals that make you healthy and your tummy happy. 

On the Final Note 

Today, almost every packaged food item contains preservatives or artificial flavours that can cause stomach trouble or other health problems, especially in sensitive individuals. To ensure you do not put many chemicals into your body, learn how to read labels or spot artificial flavours & preservatives. And if you want to completely eliminate harmful chemicals from your life, consider cooking nutritious and delicious meals on your own or opt for healthy tiffin meals in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. 

FAQs

Q. How can I tell if my food has preservatives or artificial flavours? 

In order to determine if your food has preservatives or artificial flavours, check the ingredients list for chemical names, E-numbers, or words like “artificial flavour” or “flavouring substances.” 

Q. Are preservatives and artificial flavours harmful if eaten every day? 

Regular intake may cause allergies, stomach issues, or long-term health problems. However, occasional intake is safer. 

Q. Which Indian packaged foods commonly contain these additives? 

Chips, biscuits, soft drinks, pickles, jams, instant noodles, and flavoured drinks often have these additives. 

Q. What are the best fresh and natural alternatives to processed snacks and meals? 

Some of the best and natural alternatives to processed snacks and meals include home-cooked meals, fresh fruits, nuts, roasted snacks, and traditional Indian dishes like poha or upma.