I despised Kool-Aid as a kid, and I really despise it now. Look, if Kraft would just call this junk what it is, I could (maybe) ignore this product. But to market something as being good for a child when it's not (look at the label, it's fairly obvious what I'm talking about), is unconscionable in my book.
KOOL-AID INGREDIENTS: Sugar, Fructose, Citric Acid (Provides Tartness), Contains Less Than 2% Of: Natural And Artificial Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin E Acetate, Calcium Phosphate (Prevents Caking), Acesulfame Potassium And Sucralose (Sweeteners), Artificial Color, Red 40, Blue 1, BHA (Preserves Freshness).
You may defend Kraft Foods and say, "But, they're building playgrounds and donating to my kid's school when I purchase their product!" Then, I am forced to drop my head and pray, "Oh, My God! When will this insanity end?"
If you complain about the United Corporations of America, yet purchase any product made by the corporations you complain about, either stop your complaining, bend over, and take it like the Industrial Food Complex slave you have unwittingly become, or start spending your money wisely and educate your fellow PTA members to follow suit.
Go ahead, be the change! It will be hard, but you will love yourself for regaining your integrity and common sense. And if you love yourself, you will love this and other nutritionally devoid products right out of your child's life. Good on you!
And the CACA AWARD WINNER is: Crystal Light!
Get this: Kraft Foods and Crystal Light are now collaborating with The Nature Conservancy to help keep our water from drying up. Yep, it's true. Can you say pig lipstick?
CRYSTAL LIGHT (basic ingredients) Ingredients: Citric Acid, Potassium and Sodium Citrate, Aspartame*, magnesium oxide, contains less than 2% of natural flavor, lemon juice solids, SOLIDS, acesulfame potassium, soy lecithin, artificial color, yellow 5, BHA (preserves freshness. Contains: soy. *phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine.
Wanna know what's unsafe about Crystal Light, other than just about everything? Check out the Center for Science in the Public Interest by clicking here, and be sure to click here and peruse their list of food additives. If you see something with an X beside it, that means you should avoid it because 1) it isn't safe in any amount, or 2) it's poorly tested and not worth the health risk.SURPRISE! Both aspartame and acesulfame potassium receive big Xs. Just so you know, aspartame is an excitotoxin.
An EXCITOTOXIN is, very simply, a chemical (a pesticide, or a food additive, or Agent Orange, for example) that has a negative effect on the human nervous system. Excitotoxins don't always cause complete nervous system damage, but, at the very least, can and will overstimulate mental activity. However, many of them - including aspartame - have been linked to seizures, brain tumors, brain lesions, Alzheimer's, and strokes. Oh yeah, and obesity. Excitotoxins confuse the body.
Furthermore, aspartame also causes dizziness, visual impairment, severe muscle aches, numbness, pancreatitis, high blood pressure, retinal hemorrhaging, and depression. It is suspected of causing birth defects and chemical disruptions in the brain, and we've barely scratched the surface. Want more?
Click here to read an excerpt from the book Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, MD. Please, educate yourself about this subject so you'll understand how to protect your children from the people who pretend to care about them.
Nature Conservancy, may you receive 4 sacks of excitotoxic-laden caca in your Christmas stocking this year for selling out. No more ching from me.
References
Haas, Elson M.: The Staying Healthy Shopper's Guide. Berkeley: Celestial Arts Publishing, 1999.
Haas, Elson M.: Staying Healthy with Nutrition, 21st Century Edition. Berkeley: Celestial Arts Publishing, 2008.
Fallon, Sally: Nourishing Traditions, revised 2nd edition. Washington, DC: New Trends Publishing, 2001
