Puzzled by food labels? You are not alone

Are you puzzled by the "Nutrition Info" labels now required on almost all processed and organic foods? Sometimes I am, although I've made it a habit to research about 70 to 80 ingredients and chemicals founds in the foods I purchase to know exactly what I am eating. Since I only drink water -- and the occasional social drink -- it's all about food for me.

I'm not alone -- being confused about food labels, that is. Well, I was confused until doing my own research years ago, and it continues today when I find I am not knowledgeable about a certain ingredient in something I am consuming. For example, most nutritionists know that Monosodium Glutamate -- or MSG -- is a perfect flavor enhancer, but is also known to be an endocrine system disruptor.

It's amazing to me that an ingredient like this is still legal to be put into foods, but it is. Yet, seeing "MSG" on a label means very little to millions of consumers who cannot understand what they are reading. Now, although this source article speaks specifically about the breakdown of fat, sugar, carbohydrates and calories on food labels, the ingredients is an area of the food label that is much more important if you ask me.