Why You Should Read Labels (& How to Start)

Have you ever enjoyed a “naturally flavored” berry soda? Did you know that the delicious “natural” berry flavor could actually be made from a beaver’s sex gland secretions? This ingredient is technically called “castoreum,” but few (if any) companies put the proper name on their labels, instead simply calling it a “natural flavor.” Ingredients such as these are one of the many reasons why it’s essential to be an educated and thorough label reader.

From chicken feathers to beef fat, beaver “secretions” to wood pulp, from a calf’s stomach lining to plastic by-products, many of the ingredients that pass as safe and ethical for consumption are, in truth, unpalatable to both body and mind.

Personally, I will not put anything in my shopping cart, on my body, or in my body without reading the label and understanding what is in the item first. I happily adopted this practice after becoming vegan and recognizing that knowing what is in the products I purchase is not an inconvenience, but rather, a right that we should all be exercising. I think every vegan, heck everyone, should be a label reader and researcher and here are some of the reasons why.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Melania P.

12:39PM PDT on Mar 12, 2013

In these times you should read labels, and don´t trust them all!

March 12
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Sue F.

4:32AM PST on Feb 19, 2013

Interesting Thanks. With the UK horsemeat scandal,I think more of us will be checking labels,but even then you cannot be sure that what it says on the label is true !!!! Buying local fresh ingredients seems to be the best idea.

February 19
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Patience C.

8:38AM PST on Jan 29, 2013

Gross... its all comes down to money. Not sure which is worse...

January 29
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Melissa L.

2:29PM PST on Jan 27, 2013

Thanks for the info!

January 27
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Fi T.

3:02AM PST on Jan 23, 2013

It's always good to know more before consuming

January 23
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James M.

2:21PM PST on Nov 28, 2012

For the majority of the times when I check labels, I get so many looks, confused faces and people shaking their head. I've even had an "Oh my God, you're not gonna die from eating that" and a "You're not one of them people checking for things that 'give' you cancer, are you?"

It's great to see so many others who do.

November 28
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Nicole B.

8:02AM PST on Nov 5, 2012

@Julie D. Have you noticed how when it says "low sugar" it has higher salt content then the regular brand while when it say "low sodium" the sugar is higher? My grandmother is diabetic has earlier this year, during the summer, been put on a low-sodium diet as well. That is what we found. When one is low the other is high.

November 5
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7:58AM PST on Nov 5, 2012

I was taught to read labels when I was 4 and have been reading them by myself since 9. The only time I didn't was when I was 13-16 when the man my mother married did all the shopping and thought my food allergies were nothing more then my mother's way to control what I ate. When they divorced I started up again. I read not only for soy and milk, by corn syrup and blue dye (for my brother who is allergic) and chemicals made in labs. Since I have to do look out for those (and all names they go under) I can take a few hours to shop for 4-5 people for the week. Mother has added gluten to the list for her. Many pre-made are no longer an option for my house hold with all the food allergies and intolerances.

It may not take long if you are looking for a few things, but when 5 things hid under 5-10 different names and those 5 things that MUST be avoided that makes it take a while. But it is well worth it for health in the long run.

Carrie-Anne B.

1:56PM PST on Nov 4, 2012

interesting article, thanks for sharing :)