Surprising Facts About Your Favorite Foods

Sometimes, it is better not to know certain things about what you eat. But, other times, the information can help you avoid illnesses, make you a healthier person, or keep you alive. Or perhaps, just make you sound smarter at parties.

Nevertheless, here are four important food facts about some of your favorite snacks:

Tootsie Rolls

Did you know that there is not any chocolate in Tootsie Rolls?

That is right, Tootsie Rolls are made with cocoa ingredients. Therefore, they are considered chocolate-flavored taffy candies, not the real deal chocolate treat.

Founded in 1896, six pieces of Tootsies contain 155 calories. That is approximately 26 calories per piece. So do your best to not overindulge in this delicious candy delight.

Oreo

Oreos do not contain any diary in it. Yes, they are dairy-free. But people who are allergic to dairy or who are lactose intolerant may want to avoid Oreos due to cross-contamination possibilities from facilities that handle dairy products.

Note: always check ingredient labels and packaging for more information before purchasing Oreos.

McDonald’s Fries

Sure, who does not love McDonald’s fries? I do, and it should be simple enough to make, but McDonald’s fries contain 19 ingredients.

However, in Europe, its McDonald’s fries only have four ingredients in it due to different food regulations.

Here is the United States’ fries’ ingredient list:

Of course, potatoes are the main component, followed by an ample amount of salt.

But the fast-food giant adds a vegetable oil blend (canola oil, corn oil, and soybean oil, which have high smoke points), and a “Natural Beef Flavor” which, surprisingly, contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk to its ingredient list.

Dextrose, a type of sugar that is sprayed onto fries after frying that adds that special yellow/golden color.

Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate–a synthetic food additive that helps the fries keep its color. Plus, citric acid to a preserve the fries.

Additionally, propylene glycol: A solvent and humectant that helps the fires retain moisture.; Silicon Dioxide: used as an anti-caking agent; hydrolyzed vegetable protein: used as a flavor enhancer, often containing MSG, which gives me headaches at times; autolyzed yeast extract: used to improve flavor and rich in glutamates, similar to MSG; annatto extract: a natural food coloring derived from the achiote tree, a small evergreen tree.

Among other things too difficult to pronounce and understand.

I guess you can enjoy in them in moderation.

Honey

Did you know any type of honey should be avoided by children under the age of one? It could lead to infant botulism, a serious illness caused by the bacteria in honey.

Infants cannot stomach the spores found in honey due to their undeveloped digestive systems, which can cause neurotoxin production in their intestines. It may lead to muscle weakness, paralysis, respiratory issues, and even worse, per medical sources.

It is a good idea to wait until they are older to introduce honey into their diets.

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Thank you for reading my stories and articles. Please stop by again real soon.

— Jerry Del Priore