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The Inside Story On My Visit To Kraft Headquarters

When I boarded the plane in North Carolina to go to Chicago just a few days ago to deliver over 270,000 petitions to Kraft headquarters, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.

Over the course of this week, several media outlets have interviewed me before, during and after my visit to Kraft where they reported bits and pieces of what happened; however, they didn’t share the whole inside story and that is why I want you to know everything that happened that day including everything that led up to the behind-closed-doors conversation I had with Kraft.

No April Fool’s Joke

On Monday, which happened to be April Fool’s Day, I  woke up at 5am to a very chilly morning in Chicago to get ready for a live TV interview on Fox News Chicago. I spent the night before thinking about what I was going to say and preparing for questions. There was one thing I wanted to get across in the interview – I wanted to ask Kraft on live TV, why they have refused to meet with me (after repeated attempts to reach out to them) and why they haven’t listened to over 270,000 thousand consumers. Luckily during the interview, I was able to ask those questions. My favorite line was telling Kraft “I’m not the boogie man.” To my surprise, Fox invited their medical correspondent on the show with me, who ended up confirming the research that there is a correlation between hyperactivity and the consumption of food dyes. This doctor even went on on live TV again in the afternoon that day, to confirm these findings in the evening broadcast. Many people at the station told me they appreciated my efforts to raise awareness about food safety. So of course, I took a moment and tweeted that.

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I headed back to my hotel, where I was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune. The reporter grilled me – it was a lively debate and the article ended up having one of the best titles of day “Kraft served in mac ‘n’ cheese fight.”

Taste Test On The Streets of Chicago

To prove that the UK version of Kraft Mac & Cheese made with natural dyes was just as yellow and tasty as the US version, I held a taste test on the Chicago streets in front of the Jewel Osco Market on State Street. Even though Dr. Oz confirmed they virtually look and taste the same on his show, just as I did initially when I launched the petition, I felt like this exercise would be important to get the general public aware of the issue in Kraft’s own backyard.

We stayed at a hotel that had a kitchen, which I loved for personal reasons for preparing and eating healthy food, but the real reason we did this was to have the ability to make the UK version and store it in thermoses to keep it hot for the taste testing.

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When I got to the market with all the samples, I was swarmed by the media to the point of total distraction from the original intent. Reporters wanted to interview me at the same time I was trying to approach the public to participate in the taste test.  I tried to talk to as many people as I could with a tray of Mac & Cheese in the freezing cold weather. My fingers went completely numb even with gloves on! I was really surprised at how many people stopped to talk to me, considering the conditions. The comments and reactions were priceless – almost everyone said the UK version tasted great, they loved the color and couldn’t tell a difference, especially the kids. It was gratifying to know so many people, once they understood the issue, said they would choose the Mac & Cheese product without dyes too.

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Delivering The Petitions

After the taste testing, I headed to Northfield, IL, where Kraft headquarters is located, to deliver the petitions. There was a Whole Foods right across the street, which was really convenient! We stopped there to fuel up, I bought some tea, a green juice and a cookie (full disclosure!).

When it was time, we headed to the parking lot across the street from the Kraft Headquarters and parked at the CVS. I was greeted by some amazing readers of this blog and supporters of the campaign. These new friends I made are truly incredible warriors and voices, I was touched by their commitment, positive energy and support.

Everyone

We walked the boxes of 270,000 signatures across the street to the corner of the security entrance (technically on Kraft’s property) and set up on the side walk to give a speech on why I was there.  Pulin Modi from change.org who has been with us every step of the way introduced me…You can read the entire transcript of the speech here.

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After delivering this speech, we picked up the boxes and headed to the front gate. Immediately the security guard came out from the booth and gave me a clipboard to sign my name. She said, pointing at me, “you are the only one allowed in” and asked us to put the boxes down so they could be collected.

I didn’t quite understand the impact of what was happening at the moment – I kinda froze and then I looked around, screamed “YES!”, gave a hug to the team at change.org who have been with me from the start of this campaign and to the supporters who came out that day. I looked up at the sky and thanked God. I began to feel the magnitude of the over 270,000 voices I was representing. The letters from all the people and children harmed by these dyes went through my head. Tears of joy ran down my face – mascara went everywhere.

Before leaving with the security guard to be escorted to the front, I turned to the media cameras and told them “This is a monumental moment, people have been trying to get artificial food dye out of food for decades.” And thanked everyone who called that day. ABC in Chicago captured the moment here.

Then I proceeded to walk through the gate, escorted by security, where I was told I could take no pictures. I called two people on my walk in, Lisa Leake who started this petition with me and my husband. I also texted my Mom and told her “Kraft is letting me in”, she immediately wrote back “stay calm love.”

At security gate

The Power of Your Voice – The Food Babe Army

Before this moment, I didn’t have a scheduled meeting with Kraft, in fact, Kraft had refused to meet with me and ignored our requests to have a conversation about the petition for the entire last month. A few hours before heading to the headquarters, I posted a message on Facebook asking fans to call the headquarters on my behalf to ask Kraft to meet with me. I wasn’t the only one who did this, several other food advocates (and personal friends) shared this message with their fans too – The Cornucopia Institute, CEO of Nutiva – John Roulac, GMO Inside, Leah from Mamavation, Cheri from Label GMOs Hollywood, CSPI, Ann Marie from Cheese Slave, Max from Livingmaxwell, Lisa from 100 Days of Real Food, and countless other fans. I didn’t know at the time, but this tactic ended up being one of the most powerful social media events I have ever witnessed. Reading the comments on facebook was so inspiring, people were put on hold for over 10 mins and did not give up. Kraft eventually went from ignoring my emails and voicemails to finally deciding to meet. I believe the persistence and calls of supporters that day is what led Kraft to finally agree to sit down with me.

Here was the graphic posted and shared all over facebook that day:

KraftHQVisit

The Meeting: Behind Closed Doors with Kraft

Once in the building, I was introduced to Lynne Galia and Basil Maglaris from Corporate Affairs (not the CEO Tony Vernon or Head of Mac & Cheese Noelle O’Mara like I had requested) and we went to go find a conference room. Obviously they had not reserved a room for my visit so there was a bit of confusion trying to get a space to sit down and talk.

I asked for their cards, but they both didn’t have one on them (I wonder if it’s because they didn’t want me to have their phone numbers?)

I asked them if I could conference in Lisa, and they obliged. But first, they made it clear that I wasn’t allowed to tape record the meeting in any capacity and Lynne showed me her phone when she turned it off.

As soon as we began talking, they immediately reiterated their position in the previous letter they posted on their website and asked us if we had anything new to share with them. We asked why haven’t they listened to over 270,000 people demanding the removal of artificial dyes? And they said “we are listening and have 14 different options that do not have dyes.”

We explained our position about those 14 options.

  1. There are over 30 Kraft Mac & Cheese products that have artificial dyes, and the average consumer cannot tell the difference between the similar looking blue boxes to avoid dye. We asked if Kraft would consider a label change to be more clear but Lynne refused to entertain this idea.
  2. Kraft’s dye free options are not available at every grocery store, we cited examples including reader feedback from calls to customer service, reader pictures of various grocery store shelves, and my own experience earlier that day at Jewel Osco market in Chicago to prove our point. We explained there is not a version without dye in every grocery store side by side with the regular version. Lynn said in response that consumers have to read the ingredient label, then call the customer service hotline to find the products without dyes and can buy different versions on Amazon.com – I stated that is an unrealistic expectation to ask of most consumers, and how would they even know about the dye free option, if they have never even seen it in their stores or unaware of the health issues associated with dyes?
  3. The Kraft Mac & Cheese that is available in kid’s menus across the nation at various chain restaurants like Applebees, IHOP, and Bob Evans do not give a choice, all of those children who order off these menus receive Kraft with artificial dye.
  4. The majority of the 14 options (all but 1) are more expensive – sometimes twice the price of the original blue box. While the UK version is just 10 cents more than the regular blue box version – a reasonable difference consumers could afford.
  5. Many varieties of the homestyle versions of Mac & Cheese are totally different and do not compare to the original blue box Mac & Cheese. (For example, they have other additives like partially hydrogenated oils (a.k.a. trans fat), corn syrup and GMOs.) How is avoiding artificial dyes and eating other additives really a choice?
  6. Kraft’s dye free options are not the ones marketed toward children with cartoon characters and other sayings – Kraft currently offers no dye free options to children. I asked Lynne and Basil if they would consider offering a version of Kraft without dyes to kids, they declined to answer.
  7. Two of the options Kraft lists are dye free actually do have dyes if you buy the microwave version. Lynne claimed that only the “bag” version is dye free. We explained this was very confusing to the average consumer and unfair to the person who chooses to microwave their food vs. cook it over the stove. It also makes their “letter to fans” inaccurate. Basil wrote a note about this on his piece of paper.

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BaconHomestyle

Lynne also reiterated that they are complying with the FDA laws and look to “scientists and regulators” when formulating their products. Which prompted me to ask “Why did Kraft spend over 10 million dollars during the last 5 years lobbying the FDA? And why does Europe require a warning label for these dyes?”

She didn’t answer the questions and looked visibly uncomfortable when I asked them.

Lynne said Kraft is listening to their customers who want to keep Mac & Cheese just the way it is. We asked her how Kraft defined the word “listening,” since there were over 270,000 people requesting the removal. We wanted to know who the people were that want artificial dyes in their food? She couldn’t answer that question – so we asked “How do you define “listening” – and she explained that the people who are still buying the product (i.e. the people who don’t know about this issue yet) are the ones they are listening to – in other words, we explained – you are listening to your sales of Mac & Cheese, the bottom line, correct? And she nodded.

I realized the tone of the meeting from the get go, wasn’t very positive, but I stayed on message and asked pointed questions, sometimes asking the same question two and three times to see if we could get answer…

One of the questions I asked repeatedly was this:

Why did you reformulate Mac & Cheese without artificial food dyes overseas but not here? And why did Kraft do it for almost the entire line of products including, Lunchables, Trident, Halls, Pillsbury, and Ritz Cheese Crackers? Artificial food dyes are still allowed in Europe – but you reformulated them there? Why?

I just wanted to hear the answer as I understood it. We know Kraft did it to avoid the warning label that is required in Europe when a product uses artificial dyes and wanted them to be honest and admit this but neither of Kraft’s representatives wanted to answer the question truthfully and said “I don’t know” each time we asked those questions. At one point I asked to speak to the person in charge of the UK version of Mac & Cheese, and Lynn said that was her territory, but she didn’t know the answer to our questions, so I asked – who does know the answers? Can we talk to them? She refused my request.

Lynne, exhausted from having to answer “I don’t know” several times during the meeting, said she “might” consider following up on that question.

Hearing, that we weren’t going to get the action from Kraft we wanted, I asked if we could set up a follow up meeting in 2 weeks to get answers to our questions, and see if we could stay in touch regarding this issue and whether any progress is being made at Kraft towards removing artificial dyes. Basil said “2 weeks is arbitrary” and Lynne, added “In 2 weeks -our position will be the same.”

We asked Lynne and Basil if they fed their kids Mac & Cheese and what versions they choose. Both of them answered several different versions including the ones with dyes, and Basil mentioning his family likes adding extra cheddar cheese (likely Kraft brand) to the boxed versions.

Towards the end of the meeting, I asked if Kraft was planning to eliminate the dyes anytime in the future, and if it was on their radar (considering they said in June 2012 they were looking into replacing artificial dyes with more natural options.) If Kraft was not ready to talk about it, we offered to back off. I even proposed to keep any of their plans to remove the dye private until they were ready and ignore media who was waiting outside. We handed them a carrot, but they didn’t bite. Instead, Lynne offered that she couldn’t “predict the future” and ultimately left the meeting saying she believes “Kraft is making the right choice” and “we have to agree to disagree.”

At the end of the meeting – Lynne claimed that she was taking our concerns and unanswered questions to other colleagues but I noticed she didn’t take any notes during our meeting. Her notepad was left entirely blank, while I had taken over 3 pages of notes.

After the meeting, I was walked to the main gate by security, and to my surprise, the boxes of petitions were still there. I found it comical that they left them out there for so long considering all the employees coming in and out of the building.

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The supporters who came out that day waited over an hour for me to return from the meeting – it was an incredible feeling having them greet me at the end of the meeting. A video from Progressive Illinois captured what I said and shared at that moment here.

Result: Kraft’s Brand Damaged, Boycotts Ensue

Kraft made a very calculated move to sit down with me. That was one thing they did right to avoid further criticism. Could you imagine the backlash from the media if they didn’t accept the 270,000 petitions we delivered to their front door?

However, as you can see from the results of the meeting, Kraft continues to be in denial. One of my mentors stated that getting inside Kraft’s headquarters is indicative of the food industry berlin wall falling one pebble at a time…The potential brand damage that Kraft could suffer from not listening to concerned customers is tremendous – just use google news to google kraft mac & cheese and you can see what I’m talking about. I truly believe down the road, Kraft will make this change. We’ve seen this denial over and over again, companies say no a few times, before they say yes – especially when their decisions start to hurt their bottom line.

Readers, fans and supporters have already started to vote with their dollars and have stopped buying not only Kraft Mac & Cheese, but all of Kraft’s Products. If you’ve been following me for sometime, you know this – I personally haven’t bought anything from Kraft (except the Mac & Cheese I had to for this campaign) since they gave 2 million dollars fighting against our right to know and labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Kraft Boycott

Trust me when I say this is not over and we have a lot of creative ideas planned to keep this pressure on and want you all to be even more involved!

Please make sure you sign up for my email list to stay up to date and follow me on facebook and twitter. Keep sharing this petition. And most importantly, keep talking to your friends and family about why they should not be consuming these artificial, petroleum-based dyes.

We can do this together – I know it.

Thank you!

Food Babe

 

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246 responses to “The Inside Story On My Visit To Kraft Headquarters

  1. Just buy a bag of macaroni noodles, add heavy whipping cream, butter and cheddar cheese, salt &if pepper. Your still making it the same as the box but much healthier and no additives

    1. If certain foods have dyes in them just don’t buy them. Or make your own pasta from scratch and add cheese to it. If Kraft doesn’t remove dyes from their foods and as a result some consumers do not buy those products, Kraft will still have other costumers who who don’t care about artificial dyes still buying their products. Those who follow a paleo diet do not eat any processed foods. Perhaps those who want to avoid food colorings should look into that type diet and lifestyle. Packaged and processed foods are bought for convenience to save time or if someone is just too lazy to make food from scratch at home.

      1. It’s in our interest to maximize public health. Less sick people around means reduced chance of you getting ill, too. lower health care costs, etc. Glad FoodBabe is playing one-woman FDA / USDA. If enough of us get interested and involved, there’s a better chance of having our gov’t work for us, instead of against, right?

      2. Hank – Could not say it better myself! Unfortunately, unless people seek out information on processed, artificial, and GMO foods, the information is buried by sneaky mega corporations and agri businesses. What we need is a true grassroots movement to force our government to act ethically and morally just like the food safety standards in Europe!

      1. It doesn’t have to be – I buy mine hand skimmed in glass jars, straight from the cow. Zero processing.

      2. Cream is a lesser evil than food dye. Let’s not debate every single comment – just for the sake of debating. Stick to the topic is best here. Food dye’s are chemicals that should not be introduced into the body.

    2. I agree 100% with Molli. It’s just as quick (and cheaper too) to make real mac and cheese as it is to prepare a box of the artificial stuff – and it tastes so much better. The one time I tried a box of “Kraft Dinner” I ended up adding my own ingredients (more cheese, cream, butter and seasonings) anyway to make it taste better.

  2. A simple rule for improving the quality of the food you eat:

    READ THE INGREDIENTS. If you can’t make it to the end of the ingredients list, because it’s so long that you get bored or tired, then DON’T BUY IT!

  3. We have stopped buying anything that has preservatives or artificial colors because we do not believe that man made chemicals are something we want in our food. But we are also extremely concerned about GMO’s and the lobby to keep us in the dark about what is in our food.

  4. If certain foods have dyes in them just don’t buy them. Or make your own pasta from scratch and add cheese to it. If Kraft doesn’t remove dyes from their foods and as a result some consumers do not buy those products, Kraft will still have other costumers who who don’t care about artificial dyes still buying their products. Those who follow a paleo diet do not eat any processed foods. Perhaps those who want to avoid food colorings should look into that type diet and lifestyle. Packaged and processed foods are bought for convenience to save time or if someone is just too lazy to make food from scratch at home.

    1. Buying processed foods is not always about ‘convenience’ or being ‘lazy’. For a huge number of people it’s about not-knowing. There are still many, many people who have never heard of a reason to doubt nor wonder whether a packaged food is healthy. Some of those who don’t know, may have heard whispers that they should question the number of ingredients, but haven’t yet connected the dots.
      It is important for us to keep pointing the finger at companies like Kraft, and to demand they improve labelling, as much as we should just cook our own food. If the labelling was more clear, fewer people would buy their cheaply made products.
      Keep spreading the word, and try not to judge people who don’t yet know.

      1. Exactly! I think that is the majority of the problem. I’d like to think that if people knew the dangers of what they were feeding their children and themselves, they would certainly pay 10 cents more for a healthier option. Most people are simply trying to afford food and fit enough meals into their busy day period, and wouldn’t even think that government agencies/major food companies would be silently feeding them dangerous ingredients.

      2. Agreeing with Chrish, the perceptions of people are the hardest change of all things. Is it easier to change 10 million people’s perception or lifestyle – or the top 5 manufacturers of boxed foods? I think that the first option is happening, and rather rapidly in the last few years with all of the GMO issues being exposed, may have opened up the eyes of the masses to what they are putting on their child’s plate.

      3. I know what you mean. Every time I have to continuing education, and it is about nutrition, all they ever talk about is the nutrition label. Never about what is in it. I get so annoyed. It is like your here to teach people!

  5. I cannot sign the petition! Some kind of error comes up saying “The webpage cannot be found.” 🙁

      1. Thank you! I also couldn’t get the petition to work until you posted this link!

  6. I agree artificial colors and flavors should not be in our foods, BUT My bigger problem at this point is that the “natural” ones are not listed. I have a child that goes into shock if her gets too much red. Carmine is not listed, or the MANY “names” it can be hidden under. We have NO way to avoid it. At least if it’s artificial # and it’s listed YOU have a choice!

    SO… now say well just don’t eat it!

    Great that’s ALL Orange-Red-Purples! That’s ice creams, yogurts, meats, juices, pasta sauces, candy, sprinkles, pizza, spaghetti, Make up, Medications, Medical supplies(testing), You go one day and list all the items YOU SEE or TOUCH that’s Orange-Red! THEN try to avoid it!

    He goes EVERYWHERE with Benedryl AND Epi’s JUST INCASE. I really wish they would just list it, we don’t have a choice!

  7. Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.

    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed
    in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Appreciate it

  8. Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one!
    It’s on a entirely different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!

  9. constantly i used to read smaller articles which as well clear their motive,
    and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading at this place.

  10. Wow, that’s so amazing that you’re diligently following up with these companies even though they are so callous, uncaring and stubborn. Keep up the good work and before long it will pay off, though I know it has already in small ways! I wish I could get involved somehow. If enough people genuinely start petitioning these companies and/or boycotting products maybe a big change can happen. It makes me sick how these companies refuse to change and the general public doesn’t even know that they are consuming these dangerous components. Hopefully, things will completely change in the future. Again, you’re doing awesome work. 🙂

  11. Heya i’m for your key moment in this article. I came across this specific panel and i also in discovering It genuinely useful & that reduced the problem out and about much. I really hope to provide one important thing again along with guide other individuals as if you made it simpler for me.

  12. We’ve let ourselves be conditioned into buying the box of easy to make product. Alternatives are just as easy, and so much healthy that they’re worth the extra cost if in fact there is any.

    If we can convince ourselves to change our pattern of behavior and therefore change buying patterns, big companies will be smart to change what they offer consumers. And if they don’t, too bad. It’s up to us as individuals to say no to chemicals and processed foods as much as possible.

    Perfection isn’t the goal. Educating ourselves and our families and making an effort to eat cleaner is. Even if it isn’t organic, a plain orange that you peel is better than a fruit bar. Choose unsalted butter over margarine. Squeeze lemons into water and add a bit of sugar (even if it’s refined – it’s not about perfection) over pop. Choose better, not necessarily perfect.

  13. I discovered you via youtube a month or so ago while looking for alternatives to conventional hair care. And let me tell you, you have been SUCH an inspiration and I can’t get enough of your research, articles, links, etc. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your work and your dedication to bettering others lives and not just that, but the QUALITY in which their lives are lived. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I share as much information as I can – and get laughed at a lot – BUT I DON’T CARE. At least I know what I am doing is right and my family is going to be as healthy as I can keep them! Thank you thank you!!

  14. I have no desire to support a company who could care less about me than my dollar. I really don’t care if they change their product to a more ‘natural’ formula…they have shown their true colors. I am done with KRAFT and many companies like this. I will just continue to buy Annie’s or make my own macaroni and cheese.

  15. What’s even more despicable is kraft’s disgusting ads marketing their fake food to Latinos. Spanish ads send a message to Latino children that they should blame their mothers for not acculturating to American culture by preferring to serve healthy, nutritious home-cooked food over Kraft Mac n’ Cheese and Lunchables. The ad then instructs Latino children to demand these products from their mothers. Honestly I think their efforts will fail. The Latino culture loves its food, and has a pride so strong kraft has no idea what they’re up against.

  16. I’m not sure you understand parents. When they are rushing around with 2-5 children who have to be at different events after the school day, it’s easier to use processed foods. Top that off with many schools deleting Family Science (home economics) from their curriculum, we end up with a society who are totally dependant on companies such as Kraft. I work with families who are either foster families or families at risk of losing their children. Many are on psychotropic medications. The majority of the children will end their lives with Diabetes due to the interaction of bad nutrition and medication. Families don’t cook or eat together; it’s almost foreign for them to sit at the table once a day for a family meal.
    I commend you for sitting on the tip of the iceberg, and sincerely hope you can get Kraft to listen. They have their hands in everyone’s wallets.

  17. I found FoodBabe through Dr. Mercola’s website after reading a post on Facebook! I gave up coke first. I drink coffee (don’t ask me to give that one up), tea, and water. I lost 10 pounds! Then, I started eating at the local salad bar. I work on a college campus (read: very few healthy options) and I go out of my way to get off campus at least three days a week to eat fresh fruit and veggie salads for lunch, which leaves me satisfied until dinner (amazing!). I load up on every color I can find! I lost a further 20 pounds. I am working on myself and gradually moving in on my kids’ eating habits. It’s easy with the oldest, but we’d be lucky to get the middle one to eat at all, so we’re still on hot dogs. but, I try to pay more for the kosher ones with no nitrites, if I can find them.

    Winn-Dixie has the best organic brands in my neighborhood and we have a farmer’s market, so I’m trying! But, the thing I need is recipes! Is there a place where I can get recipes for things like mac and cheese? Spaghetti? I don’t have whole foods or access to many of the brands you seem to love here in South Louisiana! Thanks!

  18. Just heard last week that Kraft caved in, however it’s only for the “Children’s” product…

  19. Thank you for your dedication to this issue and for standing your ground against the bullies! I thought I was avoiding all Kraft products but here I am reading through your list and see Tapatio…which is sitting right next to me and was in the dinner I just ate! Sneaky Kraft. I think this is a good example of how people think they can just avoid the bad stuff in food regardless of labeling, but even for those of us who try to stay educated, it proves impossible!

  20. I think it’s sad that youu entertain the idea of allowing such companies a chance to stay in buusiness when profit is their main concerrn at the expense of the public.

    They need to go under and be replaced by companies that do *not* use MSG, GMOs, dyes, corn, soy, rapeseed, chemical sweeteners etc.

    If you want real kethcup, don’t petition Heinz to stop selling tomato flavored corn syrup. Petition the public to buy REAL ketchup.

    I hate that it’s come to this but the only way to change the landscape in this way is to appeal to certain specific negative emotions. The truth is that today people do not listen to reason over promises of convenience or appeals to positive emotion(e.g. ‘eat fresh’). The only way to bust through this is to appeal to people’s sense of betrayal(often accompanied by anti-authoritarian sentiments), embrassment(for foolishly eating/buying junk fed to them because it SAYS it’s food), shame(for endangering themselves/kids).

    Thhat can short circuit the propaganda when people FEEL ashamed, betrayed and embarrassed for being dumb enough to let wolves take advantage of them.

  21. Too bad to hear this…I’m a Patriots fan and disappointed to see that Kraft organization is missing an opportunity to create healthier products for US consumers. I think the other story here is why would Kraft put a healthier product in the UK and not the US? Obviously the recipe is already done..so it must mean that it cost more for the healthier version and it comes down to profitability.

    Keep up the good work!

  22. My boyfriend makes fun of me for taking such a long time at the store, but it has become an obsession of mine to read the ingredients on the label of everything I want to buy, just to make sure there is nothing “unnatural” about it. But now the goal is to try and find the Non-GMO ingredients, which I must say, in a small town is VERY difficult. I am learning to become a chef these days because the big box grocery stores make it incredibly hard to be convenient when you want to be healthy.

  23. Thank you for fighting on behalf of many, especially children. Making our own food from scratch is not as difficult as people think. They just don’t do it because it’s easy not to and grab something off the shelf instead. Growing up we never ate processed food. My parents cooked good food for all 10 of us and all of us now cook the same way. Good example and better food!

  24. Coming from a big corporation, I can tell you that Kraft won’t make a change to their formula (I’d say recipe, but it resembles a science project more) unless they see or anticipate a market change. So people need to vote with their wallets, though of course the publicity that a petition of that size brings is very important as well. I didn’t realize Kraft was so bad, and grew up eating much of that stuff. Thanks for the education, I’ll make sure my kids have a healthier childhood.

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