annoyed by made-up ingredients

Flogging Jason · Post by **Flogging Jason** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:06 pm

Has anybody seen the commercials for Danactive products? Everytime I see them I'm annoyed at how they make up names for the cultures in the product based on it's "supposed" health benefits.

The commercial that promotes their product that improves your digestive system contains a culture called "bifidus regularis"

The one for your immune system is called "l casei immunitas"

Is it really necessary to trump up a product's benefits with stupid, made up ingredients?

If I'm wrong let me know.

Lambchop · Post by **Lambchop** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:16 pm

I think they call them nice names like that because otherwise they would have to just flat out tell you that they're putting poo bugs in your yogurt.

anniemcu · Post by **anniemcu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:27 pm

Because "Contains Live Cultures" or "Contains Active Cultures" just aren't trendy enough.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 10:44 pm

Makes me feel like I'm at a patent medicine show.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:52 am

http://www.bifidusdigestivum.com/
just sounds better than "Bifidobacterium animalis DN 173 010"

Silvano · Post by **Silvano** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:24 am

Definitely the lifestyle and wellness stream has been caught up by marketing managers of food selling companies. The term "function food" has been created, as if food had not a function before.
I find the advertising also really boring and ridiculous. When I see it I always ask my wife: Did you already have your "activis, regularis, defensis" culture today?

Silvano

missy · Post by **missy** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:33 am

ah, I remember the days of good ol' Lactobacillus acidophilus fondly......

drruthless · Post by **drruthless** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:01 am

Lambchop wrote:I think they call them nice names like that because otherwise they would have to just flat out tell you that they're putting poo bugs in your yogurt.

If you had ANY idea how many POO bugs that are allowed into the foods we eat…..you would give up eating….
_________________
One small step for man
One giant leap for manki…oh my god look what I’ve stepped in

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:47 am

drruthless wrote:
Lambchop wrote:I think they call them nice names like that because otherwise they would have to just flat out tell you that they're putting poo bugs in your yogurt.
If you had ANY idea how many POO bugs that are allowed into the foods we eat…..you would give up eating….
_________________
One small step for man
One giant leap for manki…oh my god look what I’ve stepped in

I once read on a PeTA website (which I don't necessarily believe, because, I mean, it's PeTA, after all) that there is a small percentage of field mice ground up in Cheerios cereal because of harvesting methods which use machines and are inexact.

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:58 am

And that doesn't count the sasquatches, courting couples and Holden Caulfield wannabees.

SteveShaw · Post by **SteveShaw** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:15 am

Cranberry wrote: there is a small percentage of field mice ground up in Cheerios cereal because of harvesting methods which use machines and are inexact.

I don't believe this. I tried them on my cat just now. Not interested.

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:51 am

Cranberry wrote:I once read on a PeTA website (which I don't necessarily believe, because, I mean, it's PeTA, after all) that there is a small percentage of field mice ground up in Cheerios cereal because of harvesting methods which use machines and are inexact.

If there is a tolerance at General Mills for mouse parts in Cheerios, they will have a written specification for it. I know at many companies (but I'm not saying this is necessarily so at GM) there are tolerances for bug parts in things like wheat because totally bug free would be impossible. Rodent parts are less tolerable generally and I'm sure the tolerance is extremely low if they have one, not so much because of any risks, which would be eliminated in processing, but because if the public found out they ALLOWED mouse parts the backlash would be huge.

SteveShaw · Post by **SteveShaw** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:58 am

Rumour has it that the old-style cider makers used to toss a couple of dead rats into the fermenting vats to add a bit of character to the flavour.

gonzo914 · Post by **gonzo914** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:17 am

I don't know how reputable this website is, but it seems reasonable -- How Many Insect Parts and Rodent Hairs are Allowed in Your Food?

And from the FDA -- The Food Defect Action Levels -- so you can look up your favorite comestible.

dwest · Post by **dwest** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:33 am