Many consumers are under the assumption that organic food is always natural and healthy. Advertising and even our own common sense wants us to believe this. And while this might be true in the case of produce and fresh foods which are usually laden with pesticides, processed foods on the other hand, whether organic or not, often contain additives that aren’t so natural… or healthy. 5 of the most surprising ingredients (according to a Mother Jones article) that are in organic foods are: carageenan, synthetic DHA, acidified sodium chlorite, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and ethylene.

Many of these big, scary sounding chemicals aren’t even essential to the cooking or packaging process, which is why it frustrates some consumers that they are in there at all. And while there is debate about the safety or health risks associated with these different ingredients, many people still do not want extra chemicals in their food, no matter the circumstances.

This article is a good reminder for everyone that even though you may be buying organic processed foods, they are still processed with chemicals you may not want to ingest. It is important to limit the number of processed foods we eat in order to limit our exposure to these and other chemicals. Remember, just because something is “organic” does not mean it is healthy!

What are your thoughts? Do you feel better buying organic processed foods because you think they are healthier? Are you surprised by any of the information in the article? Let’s discuss on Facebook!