Some of the greatest offenders of fake foods are some of the ones we love the most.
- Coffee– pre-ground coffee can have cheap additives such as wheat, barley, and in some cases twigs. The better option is to buy the beans whole and ground them yourself.
- Teas– Some brands can add in things like sawdust or other leaves in order to make it last longer.
- Sushi– The fish is not always the fish that it is claimed to be. Oceana tested sushi restaurants in New York and found that 100% of the fish wasn’t what it was said to be.
- Fish– Expensive fish like red snapper and grouper can be other fish that can’t be identified when tasted.
- Extra-virgin olive oil– Even the good brands can have cheaper oils such as peanut or soybean oil in it to make up the cost difference.
- Parmesan Cheese– The cheese that is sold in the U.S. is nothing like the cheese in Italy with other cheeses added in to make a lower quality of cheese and at a lower price point.
- Honey– There are not many regulations on what is called honey so this gives the companies the ability to add in high-fructose corn syrup as well as other sugars. The best thing is to buy local and read the label to make sure it’s only honey.
- Dry Spices– When tested at times oregano included weeds and turmeric had corn.
- Champagne– Can only be called champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France. Anything else has to be called sparkling wine though companies try to market their product as champagne.
- Kobe beef– Only 10 companies are allowed to sell Kobe beef, so it is important to check the companies that are allowed to sell when buying.
- Fruit juice– Can have other fruits added in to cut cost as well added flavors and sugars. It is important to read the label to get the best quality of juice.
Secret: It’s important to read labels to know what’s in your food and pick the best products that you can.