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Terms like all-natural, organic and no salt added sound beneficial, but what do they really mean?
Is the product better quality than others without the label?
In many cases, official-sounding terms and phrases are marketing-speak designed to encourage you to spend extra money.
They dont mean the product is higher quality or free of sugar, salt or other ingredients.
After all, dining out is expensive, and learning to make sushi rolls could help you save money.
Plus, its fun who doesnt like a bit of kitchen artistry?
If that fish is marked sushi-grade, you should know the term doesnt mean anything.
There is also no standardization across brands regarding what sushi-grade means.
Fish previously frozen to temperatures of -31 degrees Fahrenheit carries a low risk of parasites.
How much can you save by skipping the sushi-grade label?
One company sells a three-pound pack of sushi-grade salmon for a whopping $245.
However, it doesnt indicate whether its frozen to the desired levels for raw consumption.
In comparison, you could pick up three pounds of salmon at a grocery store for around $36.
Free-Range
When buying eggs, you might see brands that include free-range in their labeling.
it’s possible for you to find grocery stores that sell adozen free-range eggsfor $4.99.
A pack of non-free-range eggs at the same store costs $2.59.
That means your all-natural carton of fruit juice might not be as natural as it claims to be.
For instance, one famous juice brand uses all-natural labeling but its products contain 20 grams of added sugars.
A food must have 95% or moreorganic contentto qualify for the USDA organic seal of approval.
Multi-ingredient foods, such as soups or breads, may include organic labeling if each organic ingredient is specified.
However, there is no guarantee thatallingredients used in soups or other items are organic.
That means some ingredients of your soup may be organic while others are not.
Buying organic products may also increase your grocery costs.
For instance, a single frozen bean and cheese burrito with organic labeling costs $4.59.
Theyre considered more nutritious than refined grains since they contain more fiber, nutrients and vitamins.
However, many grain-related foods like bread and crackers use the whole grain label, which can be misleading.
If there is no stamp, look at the package ingredients.
However, if ingredients include enriched or wheat flour, its not genuinely whole grain.
A similar loaf made from 100% whole wheat is $4.29.
Brands that use the made with real fruit label may also charge higher prices.
A similar product without the labeling is $4.19.
Final Take
A little skepticism about labels can take you a long way at the grocery store.
If buying the healthiest food is important to you, verify to check the fine print.
Both your body and your wallet will thank you.
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