I love pizza! It’s one of my top favorite foods next to kale and cake. And I know I’m not the only one that loves it, either. Recently, the USDA conducted a study which revealed the enormous amount of pizza we consume in the United States. American consumption of cheese increased by nearly 30% in 10 years because the dairy industry is spending big bucks to promote pizza and partner with big chains like Dominos. Congress even voted to declare pizza a vegetable in the school lunch program. The government wants us to eat pizza – a lot of it. But there’s a lot going on behind closed doors that nobody wants us to know or talk about, and it all starts with the ingredients.
When I started researching pizza ingredients, one thing became abundantly clear. Pizza restaurants did not like the questions I was asking.
The only way to find out what may be lurking in your pizza is to review its complete ingredient list, which is often concealed from the public. I began calling the top pizza chains and easily found a couple ingredient lists online. But, when I called most pizza restaurants and began asking questions, they blatantly refused to share ingredient lists and their customer service reps were oblivious to what their ingredients were – they had no clue.
Little Caesars, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) and Mellow Mushroom have all refused to answer my questions about their ingredients. I was told by Mellow Mushroom’s corporate offices that they will only comply with minimal government regulations, which require them to publish an allergen list.
After sending me their dough ingredients, CPK suddenly claimed that due to “proprietary restrictions” they can’t disclose their full ingredient lists. They went on to tell me that they “don’t have an easy way to perform a search by individual ingredient” and would need to call each vendor first. While traveling, I stopped into a CPK in an airport to ask questions face to face. Both the manager and store clerk had zero access to ingredients. I even asked to look at the packages of their dough and other ingredients that got shipped to the store in and they said they did not have them.
I called many local pizza restaurants and was informed that it’s their policy to NOT disclose ingredients to their customers. Little Caesars literally told me that if I was concerned about what was in it, I “just shouldn’t eat there…” Ha! Don’t worry, I won’t!
Papa John’s also has repeatedly refused to release their ingredient list, which really caused a stir last year with my friend Melanie Warner, author of the processed food exposing book “Pandora’s Lunchbox“. How can Papa John’s claim to have “Better Ingredients… Better Pizza” without telling us what’s really in it? While they say their lack of transparency is due to the proprietary nature of their recipes, they could be hiding some seriously harmful ingredients. After repeated calls to corporate offices and some helpful photos sent to me by Melanie Warner, I was finally able to uncover some details about what is really in their pizzas.
Why are the ingredients so hard to find? Why are they refusing to share their ingredients? What is it that these pizza restaurants don’t want us to know?
Well, I’ll tell you what they’re hiding: Lots and lots of hidden MSG!
Restaurants don’t want to get a bad rap by putting monosodium glutamate (MSG) on their ingredient or allergen statements, so they have found another way to secretly add this potent flavor enhancer to your food, without the average customer realizing it. Instead of letting you know that they are putting MSG in your food, they are using an FDA loophole to sneak processed free glutamic acid into your food, which has the same effect as MSG – all without warning you. They simply use other forms of free glutamic acid (such as Hydrolyzed Soy Protein), which is the main component of MSG. This allows them to have “clean labels” and deceive us into believing their product contains no MSG – when it actually does!
While it’s true that tomatoes and cheese are naturally high in glutamates, they do not have the same effect on the brain as added manufactured free glutamic acid additives. When I talked to Papa John’s, they admitted that these additives are used as a replacement for MSG by the food industry.
It will blow your mind – literally
MSG tricks your brain into believing that what you are eating tastes so great that you want more of it. Your taste buds sense that there is more protein in the food than there really is – which is great for food manufacturers that want to save money by using less or lower quality meat. These ingredients also promote an addiction to pizza so that you keep coming back to order more. Repeat business keeps their pockets lined with lots of cash. Ever wonder why you can’t stop at one slice? This is why.
MSG and hidden MSG additives are known to commonly cause headaches, obesity and depression – and this is just the tip of the iceberg. As an excitotoxin, its effect on the brain is so toxic that it has been linked to learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Lou Gehrig’s disease. Board certified neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D. warns that, “Excitotoxins have been found to dramatically promote cancer growth… It also causes a cancer cell to become more mobile, and that enhances metastasis, or spread… When you increase the glutamate level, cancer just grows like wildfire”.
This is serious stuff. But the industry will tell you it’s harmless and that you are crazy for being concerned.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it is okay to eat this stuff occasionally, because these ingredients can stick around in your body for a long time, leach nutrients from your system, and can make you really sick. As put by my pal Kristen Michaelis at FoodRenegade.com, “Not only is MSG not a traditional food, not only are many people immediately sensitive to it, but it can also interrupt the hormonal and biological development of children! Lest you think this is all fanciful, it’s important to remember that a number of studies have found that the effects of MSG can occur cumulatively over time with subsequent exposure.”
Toxic hidden MSG ingredients buried in popular pizza menu items:
- Autolyzed Yeast Extract (Hidden MSG)
- Textured or Hydrolyzed Proteins (Hidden MSG and GMO)
- Hydrolyzed Corn (Hidden MSG and GMO)
- Modified Starches (Hidden MSG or Possible GMO)
- Natural Flavors (Possible Hidden MSG)
- Disodium Inosinate or Disodium Guanylate (MSG enhancers)
The additives Disodium Guanylate and Disodium Inosinate are not added to a product that doesn’t contain MSG because they are considered expensive additives that are ineffective without MSG ingredients. The presence of Disodium Guanylate or Disodium Inosinate in a product is a strong indication that a product contains hidden MSG.
I’m talking about more than MSG here
The ingredient lists that I could get my hands on are riddled with artificial colors, artificial and natural flavors, partially hydrogenated oils, cellulose (wood pulp) to keep the already shredded cheese from clumping, and GMO soybean oil.
Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Trans-fat) – There is absolutely no reason for anyone to still be using this. These oils are so bad that even our FDA has woken up and warns that it’s not safe to eat this in any food. Partially hydrogenated oils block arteries and the CDC estimates that they could cause up to 20,000 heart attacks every year! I found these dangerous oils in Pizza Hut’s hand-tossed crust, Round Table’s Creamy Garlic sauce, Papa John’s dipping sauces and Dominos Philly Steak pizza. Partially hydrogenated oils are found in 21 menu items at Cici’s Pizza – it’s even added to their cheese!
Soybean Oil (likely GMO) – You’d hope to see just olive oil in there, but soybean oil is the oil of choice for most pizza restaurants. It’s in the dough and pizza sauces, so it basically makes its way into every pizza. This genetically engineered inflammation causing oil is being used at these restaurants:
- Papa John’s
- Domino’s
- Pizza Hut
- Uno Pizzeria
- Papa Murphy’s
- Little Caesars
- Cici’s
- Mellow Mushroom – “Soybean oil is a major ingredient in our pizzas”
- California Pizza Kitchen – “our Ciabatta Bread and our Wheat Dough do contain Soybean Oil”
- Round Table Pizza – Creamy Garlic sauce
BHT/BHA (Butylated Hydroxytoluene.Butylated Hydroxyanisole) – BHT is used in embalming fluid and to fuel jets. BHA is toxic to your organs and linked to cancer. These were found in the pepperoni on every ingredient list I looked at from Uno’s to Dominos.
Sodium Nitrite – Whenever this is added to a meat, there is a really good chance that it contains cancer-causing Nitrosamines. Nitrites are often found in the pepperoni, ham, bacon and sausage toppings.
Enriched Flour – This is a dead food that has had some vitamins and minerals artificially replaced. It’s absorbed by your body as a starch, rather than a whole grain. This flour is used in pizza dough, except the gluten-free versions.
Artificial Colors – These are petroleum-based colorings linked to asthma, allergies and hyperactivity. I found them in the banana pepper toppings, the cheese at Cici’s, and specifically in the garlic oil used by Domino’s.
Caramel Coloring – This is often made by heating ammonia and sulfites under high pressure which creates carcinogenic compounds. You’ll find this very controversial coloring in the bacon at Pizza Hut, the Italian sausage at Round Table, the beef at Little Caesars, the zesty pizza sauce at Cici’s and in the BBQ Chicken pizza at Uno’s.
BPA (Bisphenol A) – You won’t find this on any ingredient label, but BPA leaches from the cans that hold pizza sauce in some restaurants. Many fast food pizza chains use canned tomato sauce that could have BPA. This substance exposure increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes and a slew of other medical problems.
How these pizza restaurants stack up
Papa John’s – They add a lot to their “Better Ingredients”. For instance, their “100% Beef” topping is a lot more than just beef! It contains corn syrup, maltodextrin, natural flavor, natural smoke grill flavor, beef flavor and seasonings. Also, so much for believing that there is 100% real cheese topping their pizzas, as they add modified food starch (hidden MSG), preservatives and powdered wood pulp (cellulose) to their cheese blend. They also add natural flavors to their thin crust, pepperoni, and chicken topping, as well as hidden MSG (autolyzed yeast extract) to their garlic ranch and spinach alfredo pizza sauces. Those little dipping sauces that come with your pizza are loaded with partially hydrogenated oil, GMOs and (you guessed it) more hidden MSG.
Update: In June 2015 Papa Johns announced they’re removing 14 ingredients by the end of 2016, including artificial colors, caramel color, the preservative sodium benzoate, and hidden MSG ingredients like autolyzed yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins. They have also listed ingredients on their website (however this list is not entirely complete as they don’t publish the ingredients in some of their seasonings, such as in their beef topping).
Domino’s – One of the few pizza restaurants that openly publishes their ingredients online – and their ingredient list has hidden MSG written all over it. It’s almost impossible to avoid at Dominos, as it’s in their cheese, marinara sauce, white sauces, BBQ sauce and a slew of toppings (chicken, beef, Italian sausage and Philly steak). They also add “flavors” to their pan crust, cheese, pepperoni and shake-on seasoning. The garlic oil used on nearly every pizza is NOT what you’d expect (garlic & oil). It’s actually a toxic combo of over 20 ingredients including artificial colors, artificial flavors and TBHQ.
Pizza Hut – You get a lot more than “100% Real Beef” in this topping loaded natural and artificial flavors. Their sausage and bacon toppings have hidden MSG (autolyzed yeast or hydrolyzed proteins), and you are eating modified starches in their cheese, chicken and cream sauce (starches usually derived from GMO corn). The garlic sauce and seasoning used on every hand-tossed pizza is loaded with natural flavors, artificial flavors and partially-hydrogenated GMO oils. Pizza Hut recently reformulated their hand-tossed crust by replacing the high fructose corn syrup with sucralose (Splenda) – an artificial sweetener that has been shown to cause DNA damage to the gastrointestinal tract, reduces beneficial gut bacteria, and is linked to inflammatory bowel disease. Recent research indicates that sucralose is linked to leukemia.
Round Table – “The Last Honest Pizza” honestly adds straight “Glutamic Acid” to their creamy garlic sauce. They add hidden MSG ingredients to their pizza sauces, chicken and sausage toppings. Their cheese is far from “100% real” with “Natural Smoke Flavoring” and cellulose.
Little Caesars – Although their corporate office told me that their ingredients are top secret, the first gal I talked with admitted that there is yeast extract in their beef topping. I also called a local store and found that their super-secret ingredients were listed right there on the package for anyone in the kitchen to read. According to my local restaurant, their sauce contains natural flavors and the cheese contains wood pulp (cellulose). They also rattled off the beef topping ingredients to confirm it contains yeast extract, beef flavorings and caramel coloring.
Mellow Mushroom – One of the most tight-lipped restaurants I talked to would only admit to the use of soybean oil, which is likely GMO – “Soybean oil is a major ingredient in our pizzas” they wrote to me in an email. Furthermore, when I asked about hidden MSG ingredients, they told me that they weren’t required to tell me since they are not one of the 7 major allergens designated by the FDA and don’t list them on their allergen list. So I decided to go use their allergen tool to see what they do list and found something shocking. The tool gives misleading, inaccurate and potentially dangerous information if you have a soy allergy. For example, I confirmed their crust uses soy, but when you use the tool, it says there are plenty of pizzas without soy. The information doesn’t add up and regardless of whether if you have an allergy, I would not trust Mellow Mushroom until they release the full ingredient lists for their menu.
Uno Pizzeria – They are not much better than the rest with hidden MSG in their BBQ Chicken pizza, Harvest Vegetable pizza, sausage topping and gluten-free crust. I was a bit surprised to see that they also add caramel color, artificial flavors, and a large amount of natural flavors to their BBQ Chicken pizza – it’s totally unnecessary.
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) – As they were being very difficult in sharing ingredients, I was only able to confirm that the Thai sauce, tomato pizza sauce, pepperoni, salami, bacon, romano cheese, and chipotle sauce do not contain any of the hidden MSG ingredients that I listed. Because they refuse to share an ingredient list, I have no way of knowing whether they contain other additives or hidden MSG that I didn’t ask about – so don’t be convinced that these menu items are clean! I also inquired about hidden MSG ingredients in their other cheeses, BBQ sauce, chicken, sausage and ham toppings – and they have not responded at all regarding those items. Again, I will take their lack of a response as an indication that they do contain hidden MSG until they inform us otherwise.
Papa Murphy’s – It’s all about the sauces at Papa Murphy’s, where there’s yeast extract in their basil pesto sauce and modified food starch in their BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, creamy garlic sauce and sweet chili sauce. They also add “flavors” to nearly every meat topping available and to their cheese.
Cici’s – They don’t really hide it by adding straight MSG to 10 menu items including their “Zesty” pizza sauce. Cici’s further adds hidden MSG to their buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, bacon cheddar sauce, sausage topping and beef topping. Quite frankly, I can’t believe how bad their “cheese” is – modified food starch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, (added) casein, aluminum, natural flavors and artificial color! I was also astounded to find high fructose corn syrup in their BBQ sauce and dessert pizzas, as well as carrageenan and propylene glycol in several of their sauces, including the Alfredo.
Are you wondering about your favorite pizza place?
The good news is that you can do the exact same thing I did at your favorite pizza place, and please share the outcome with me!
To get the best results, plan to visit your pizza place during a slow time and not during their dinner rush. This way their employees won’t be rushed and will have time to answer your questions. Right off the bat, ask them if they have an ingredient list to share with you. Most likely they won’t, but it’s worth a try. If their ingredients are not readily available, here’s my game plan for navigating the menu and asking the right questions:
- Typically the safest bet is to stick with a veggie pizza without cheese. This is dependent on what they have lurking in their sauce and crust, so it’s really important to find out what is in those items! Ask them to read you the complete ingredients in the sauce and dough.
- Hidden MSG is most often found in meat toppings, seasoning mixes and creamy sauces – so if you plan to order those things I would ask specifically about hidden MSG ingredients. Ask them if monosodium glutamate, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed proteins, modified starches, or natural flavors are in any of those menu items. Which ones?
- GMO soybean oil is usually found in the crust and the sauces. Ask them if they use soybean oil – and in what menu items. Is soybean oil used in their pans? Can they make you a pizza without it?
- Ask them directly if any of their ingredients are GMO. You may be surprised as they may have no clue what you are talking about. Use this as an opportunity to briefly share with them what a GMO is and why you don’t eat GMOs. Let them know that most soy is GMO so if they use soy in any products, it is probably GMO. Their allergen statement should also be able to tell you if soy is used in any product.
- Remember that “garlic oils” and “shake-on seasonings” may contain a bunch of questionable ingredients and MSG. Ask them if there are any specialty oils, butter sauces, or seasoning mixes used on their pizzas. If they can’t tell you the ingredients in those, ask them not to use it on yours.
- Do they use high fructose corn syrup or other sweeteners in their sauces or dough? These sweeteners are probably derived from GMO sources – including “sugar”.
- Most vegetables will not be GMO, unless they have corn, tofu, zucchini or yellow squash toppings. I would avoid those.
- What about cellulose in their cheese? Are flavorings and preservatives added to the cheese as well?
Beware that often times the restaurant employees truly do not know the answers to your questions, and will give you incorrect answers. For instance, they may tell you that their cheese is “100% real cheese”, without realizing that the pre-shredded bag of cheese in the back contains an ingredient list. On that ingredient list, they will likely find cellulose, some preservatives, and possibly some flavors and colors. It’s good to remember that it’s not all that it seems on the surface, and in order to find out what is really in their food they will need to read the ingredient list on the box, bag or can that the menu item comes in. The bottom line – If they won’t tell you what is in their food, don’t eat there.
They don’t expect the average customer to demand answers about their food!
Only four of the restaurants I investigated publish their current ingredient lists online – Dominos, Uno’s, Papa Murphy’s, Cici’s. (Pizza Hut publishes them online, but they admitted to me they aren’t current in an email). As in my Chipotle investigation, I had to be extremely persistent over several months to get the limited information that I did from the other restaurants. This took multiple phone calls, voicemails, emails, and website contact forms – which often went unanswered. I had to ask specific questions about obscure ingredients. They are counting on the average customer to not do this!
On Papa John’s website, they say that their cheese is “crafted from 100% mozzarella and high-quality milk by one of America’s finest cheese producers” – But the ingredients tell the real story. Now we know their cheese also contains wood pulp and modified food starch… and that IT’S NOT 100% CHEESE. When Papa John’s claims in all of their advertising that they have “Better Ingredients”, yet they won’t openly tell us what they are, it’s a safe bet they’re hiding something.
I wonder if any of these restaurants will have the courage to discuss this issue. Will they do the right thing now that we are calling them out, like Chipotle did when they finally released their full ingredient list online for everyone to see? These companies do not deserve our business, until they publish their ingredients online and make them easily accessible to the average customer.
What to eat instead:
Okay, this is the good part! I’m thrilled to say that I’ve found some pizza places that are doing it right!
Pizza Fusion – I called up a Pizza Fusion restaurant and they freely answered every question I had about their ingredients – a big WIN in my book! Their sauce is super simple: organic tomatoes, olive oil, water – and no nasty additives or hidden MSG. They only use olive oil in the restaurant, so you won’t find any GMO soybean or canola oil here. They confirmed with me that their gluten-free crust no longer contains canola oil and that they are diligent about preventing cross-contamination with gluten. I was really happy to find out that all of their meat toppings are antibiotic-free! Their chickens are also fed a non-GMO diet. Many of their veggie toppings are organic and local, and all are non-GMO. This varies and depends on what is seasonally available, so simply ask them which veggies are organic when you order. They have about 12 locations right now, and I really hope they grow into a larger chain so that more of us have access to pizza places like this!
Pure Pizza – I simply love this place. If you are ever in Charlotte, this is the place to go. They have an amazing organic sprouted grain crust, and source their toppings locally.
Truly Organic Pizza – This pizza chain in Florida is USDA certified organic. Because of this, none of their ingredients can be GMO, and all of their meats are antibiotic-free and not injected with hormones. I called them up and asked specifically about hidden MSG ingredients. They told me that they do not use any flavor enhancers such as autolyzed yeast extract or hydrolyzed proteins to season their food. They cook their meatballs and chicken from scratch and only season them with basic seasonings like what we would use at home! This is another great option if you are in Florida.
My Favorite Homemade Pizza Recipe – If you don’t have pizza restaurants like these in your neck of the woods, my homemade pizza recipe is super simple and will be ready in less time than it would take you to order and have it delivered – I promise! This recipe cures my pizza craving in no time!
If you know someone who is ordering or eating pizza with these terrible ingredients, help them make the switch by sharing this very important information with them!
Together we are changing the world, one company at a time, by sharing the truth.
Xo,
Vani
Love that Vani is blowing the lid off the whole hidden names of MSG. I hope she tackles and gets the lowdown on one of the most insidious because the health food and vegan and raw food crowd swear by it – Nutritional Yeast. Autolyzed YEAST Extract and YEAST Extract are pseudonyms for MSG. It appears Nutritional YEAST is yet another one. Dr. Russell Blaylock has also gone after the hidden MSG ingredients in is books. Look forward to hearing what Food Babe has to say. Have no idea if this information applies to anyone else.
Just to let you know Vani has listed ‘yeast nutrient’ as another name for MSG, not nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast has nothing to do with glutamate or MSG. It is simply a cultured yeast that is dried.
I realize Vani doesn’t list Nutritional Yeast as MSG anywhere on her site as of yet. She may not agree with it or even feel it is worthwhile to research. I was bringing it up in hopes she would check it out. Dr. Blaylock lists Nutritional Yeast in cited research in his published books as a hidden name for MSG. Truly have no idea what may be found out.
There is a gmo free, whole wheat, whole grain pizza crust mix available now that tastes great. NO sugar or fats. It is only sold retail in Michigan or over the internet.. Easy Artisan Bread Mix is my company. Yes, you have to add water, but that’s it. SAve a bunch of money and have fun making your own.
Does Easy Artisan Bread Mix ship to South Korea? Can I find your product on iherb.com? (they ship to Korea for insanely low prices).
-Chris
Interesting that Papa John’s “100% Beef Topping” contains maltodextrin. Last I checked, that was corn, not meat. Not sure how they can legally make that claim!
for those of us watching what we put in us for years…..how about healthy bars and cereals, also thanks for the info on beer….WOW …. BUMMER…now i know thanks to you. Oddly though, so many of the people I know just dont care and I dont get why.
obviously they are content with hell in a handbasket. keep it up.
We have been making our own pizza for 10 years now, but my hubby occasionally eats at Brixx pizza…any investigation on them? I’m curious what theirs is like. I’m proud to be part of the Food Babe army!!
What a great expose and don’t worry about all of the naysayers. I’m a nutrition coach and a Weston Price girl (organic, whole foods most of the time). Eat healthy now or pay the piper and live on meds when you get older!
have you herd anything about z pizza? It’s in Orange county CA
MSG = poison. For what it’s worth, CPK, when I enquired as to its use of the substance, advised me that their recommendation was that I not eat at their establishment. However, the real problem, as I see it, is the FDA’s designation of “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for MSG and the myriad names which they allow in labeling to disguise its use. Some years back, a petition was before it to change the designation, but it was – for some unknown reason (Ajinomoto perhaps?) – stalemated and nothing further came of it. At the very least, we should implore the FDA to designate it as an allergen and thus so label products containing it. It’s also terrifying to know that some childhood vaccines contain MSG and parents would be very wise to demand to see the list of ingredients contained in the product being injected into their children. see: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines
Can you put a “share on facebook” button on your articles? I would love to let people know about you that way.
You can add Food Babe on facebook. She posts these articles on her facebook page and you can share it from there =]
GO FOODBABE!!!!
ANOTHER SMALL VICTORY!!!!!!!
I am personally building your army at two people a day!!!
little caesars: Although their corporate office told me that their ingredients are top secret… no, according to federal LAW, all ingredients MUST be clearly displayed.
Whats with all the trolls? If you trust the FDA and people that make the crappy food just eat your GMOs drink your fluoridated water take your vaccines and get off this site . Food Babe is trying to do something good for everyone so they can be healthy and have safe food for their families.
Its ok you can believe what you want Sir but I have seen interviews from scientist and chemist from Monsanto and they say they wont feed it to their kids or families they live an organic life style. If you knew what those chemicals do you wouldn’t eat them. Also that’s why the cafeteria in Monsanto is all organic.
Actually that is not true. The cafeteria in Monsanto has both conventional and organic foods which includes GMP. Here is a source from the Monsanto blog and also chatted with a few colleagues who now work there and they said it was BS as well.
http://monsantoblog.com/2012/02/10/whats-served-in-monsantos-cafeterias/
If your boys at Monsanto are so sure of the safety og the crap they create in a lab why are they so against labeling on products that contain GMO’s? They are banned in most of Europe. Most company’s here in the US have different ingredient lists in Europe because of the ban on GMO”s there. Also Roundup, another wonderful Monsanto gem, is in nearly everyone”s body’s in the US’ at alarming rates. Neither GMO’s nor Roundup is safe to even be in existence let alone being consumed by uninformed people such as yourself.
Monsanto should be put out of business and charges brought against them for crimes against humanity. They know exactly what they are doing and the dangers that are present yet they still continue to poison the people of this Planet and contaminate the air water and soil without the slightest regards as to the damage they create. And Washington is in their pockets. For goodness sake man they even have ex-Monsanto execs running the FDA and an ex-Monsanto lawyer on the supreme court.
Run your mouth less and do some homework. That is unless you’re one of those paid trolls that run rampant on the internet.
Hell I’m wasting time here with you if you think Monsanto is a Godsend.
That is a myth. See http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/pages/what-monsanto-serves-in-its-cafeterias.aspx
Sometimes I wonder is saying organic a safe code. Or is it just like msg. Like people say your are what you eat. But you are also what you grow, where, and how. Now that been said. Y’all talking about. A fatty, let’s talk eating fresh. “Subway,” or even fast food joints. Their all unhealthy to a certain degree. Do you know what’s in their bread or their meats. Where do the veggies come from (this can be used for pizza chain, fast food, fine dining all that) I’m just saying if you find the source of the product then you can talk about what’s good or bad. And yes a lot of people are allergic to certain food. Now all places suppose to have a chart listing the ingredients so people can see if their allergic or not. If they don’t then why even eat their. Or if they can’t explain to you what’s in their item your about to eat why bother. You want be worrying about msg then. Hell or anything else for that matter. Now before anybody say I should do my research. I haven’t I just saw this posting and want to give y’all a cooks point of view. And yes I still have a long way to go.
Matt,
I have eaten in two Monsanto cafeterias. Neither one was organic. I agree with Wilson. You might not want us “trolls” on this website but if the misinformation keeps coming so will we.
I buy Amy’s Organic pizzas. I find them in various super markets in the greater Philadelphia area. I hope if and when the food babe checks into these products, she won’t find a problem with them. I really like them & hope that they are healthy.
My only complaint is that they have a good bit of salt in them, so I try to limit the amount that I eat at one sitting.
Thanks for listening. Keep up the good work. If you agree that it is a good product, let me and other folks know about it.
Ooh, me too! I had one tonight!
We have an Amy’s pizza once in a while too when there’s no time or energy to make one from scratch. I’ve read the ingredient list carefully and there are no nasty chemicals. Hopefully, Amy’s is food babe approved!
Will you check out Brixx, especially Vegetarian, gluten, dairy free offerings. Thanks for this great information. You are doing a great service. keep it up.
This is depressing. I feel like every two second someone is telling me paleo only, gluten free, grain free, no msg, no meat, no cheese, no dairy no eggs, no GMO, no salt, no sugar not this, not that. I’ve actually started to get anxiety and nightmares. Honestly, what the hell is a working woman supposed to eat? I can’t sit home all day and make everything – buy 20 different nut flours to make my own bread or raise my own chickens with no yard. I’ve tried growing my own vegetables but I get no sun in my apartment and they die. I’m broke every month buying sustainable, humane milk, and organic grass fed meats. I GIVE UP, I’m not allowed to eat anything or enjoy anything so I’m prepared to eat myself to death.
I’m with you sister! It’s exhausting.
I hear you. I have a hard time getting good things because I’m disabled and those that look after me are not exactly health food followers. It seems like every day I find out about something else we can’t have. I’m hungry! Thank goodness for the farmer’s market.
Danielle, you’d think that would be the job of our government…..especially at the Federal level, to ensure that its citizens eat properly. Ted Nugent vigorously opposed Obamacare. His logic was that if Americans ate properly, they would not need it. It is people like Vani who will make all our futures better by ensuring that corporate America (Monsanto etc) is not allowed to steamroll the ordinary man.
I agree…I’m trying to eat as my N.D. is directing, but it’s expensive (so are the visits and supplements) and it’s very hard to change what I’ve been doing for over 70 years! It has become an all-consuming (no eating pun intended) problem and I feel horribly guilty if I even look at a piece of bread or think of eating anything with more than 10 carbs.
Danielle, I hear you. It is ridiculous. I have made small changes, but the articles I read about eating natural and stuff have made me think I am supposed to magically lose weight. I do know Vitacost is a great place to get some organic and natural products cheap as is AMazon. I do have a garden. it is hard to eat better with a limited budget especially when the prices of everything is going up. I try to eat a lot of natural/organic foods. if you want to go with a clean diet start with the 80/20 rule maybe. 80% clean. I have a bread recipe that is simple and doesn’t take that long.
It is depressing, Danielle – but we can’t be upset with people who are trying to find out the truth. Be furious with our government – they legally allow farm animals to be kept in deplorable conditions, that it’s okay to grow produce with toxic chemicals and that words like “natural” and “organic” can be thrown around even if the product isn’t really at all natural or organic. My husband and I have moved to a plant-based diet – beans, whole grains, fruits and veggies. It’s a much cheaper and healthier diet than the standard American one. When you can, buy frozen veggies and fruit, as they often contain the same if not a better nutritional profile as “fresh” b/c they don’t go through a shipping process. Just do the best you can and try to keep your chin-up 🙂
I realize Vani doesn’t list Nutritional Yeast as MSG anywhere on her site as of yet. She may not agree with it or even feel it is worthwhile to research. I was bringing it up in hopes she would check it out. Dr. Blaylock lists Nutritional Yeast in cited research in his published books as a hidden name for MSG. Truly have no idea what may be found out.
Oops…meant to post that on next page. So difficult to know what is best. So much info out there. The only thing that has helped my health issues (never been overweight) is a low-fat raw vegan diet. No clue if right for anyone else.
Danielle,
It’s for people like you, and I’m sure there are many, that I am here. There is absolutely no objective, scientifically sound proof to back up ANY of what’s being said on this website. I farm and know what happens on our farms. There is so much misinformation about what we are doing in the country it makes me sick. If you read the information here posted by the food scientists, you will see that there is a ton of misinformation about what is being said about many of the ingredients in our foods. I have said many times here that the key to living healthy though eating is to eat in moderation a variety of foods while staying away from processed foods as much as you can and if you have food allergies watch those too. Our food supply is safe regardless of organic/non-organic, GMO or not.
I made a comment and shared this link on one of the Mellow Mushroom FB pages. It was removed within seconds.
CPK pizzas sell in the grocery store they taste the same maybe you’ll get answers there.
How about CanAm Pizza? Anything?
We love their specialty pizzas…
I enjoy reading the information that Food Babe seeks and shares about food. It is unacceptable the way food is grown, produced, marketed, and sold in this country. I have been eating clean (or normal foods as I call them) organic foods for 10+ years. I love pizza, but unfortunately there are only a few I will eat. All the negative comments I have seen about this article are simply comical knowledge negligence. Keep up the good work!
Daniel
Indianapolis, IN
Pizza is pizza Vani. We know it’s not good for us but sure is good. Since I went on the green juice deal , I really dont eat out any more. More fruits & vegetables for me. One other thing Vani, most of the people working at these pizza places are making minimum wage & could care less what the ingredients is in the pizza. You will have to talk to corporate offices for the ingredient list. Which they probably won’t give you without a search warrant. I still support the food babe army , keep rocking their asses Vani.
Thank you Vani for exposing the truth. I eat Amy’s Organic pizzas. I saw where somewhere else said these aren’t a good option. Wondering if anyone knows why Amy’s isn’t a good option?
One more NEW food babe agent checking in. As we have become awake to this all , our food shopping pattern has really changed for the better . Better off and spending our $$$ with companies that care. Thanks.
Couldn’t agree more with you on that one David.
If you are ever in the northeast, check out Flatbread Pizza, Locally grown, organic veggies and ingredients… our fave! http://www.flatbreadcompany.com
So I worked at Mellow for about 5 years or so and their dough is pretty sacred to them. They are real tight about revealing ingredients but I remember looking on the ingredients list (we had to know b/c our store was big on looking out for people with allergies) NO GMOs/MSGs. Its a vegan dough, which is rare, its made from wheat flour with maple. It’s actually only a few ingredients that went into it. Our store bought organic toppings and premium meats.
Thank you for letting us know about this. I’m now inclined to make my own pizza from now on. You’re amazing. Brains and beauty. The total package.
I just love the fact that the readers of this website are sophisticated enough to not take the bait and respond to trolls like Quincy and John. Just let them die a silent death. Good job Food Babe Army!
I see that the lobbyist are here in full force, you must be hitting a raw nerve here Food Babe!
Pizza Fusion is terrific! You can really taste the difference their ingredients make. Luckily we have 2 around the Tampa area. Wonderful article- thanks!
Love this and all of your posts. I am curious about our pizza places in Atlanta and will inquire. Need to know about two things. 1. what is the problem w/ zucchini and squash? I keep seeing those on the NO lists. 2. what is a “good” chocolate syrup if there is such a thing? My 6 year old loves chocolate milk. Hersheys is gross, so is Ovaltine.
Thanks so much,
Jessica Walmsley
Vani, you are awesome!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am sharing this information with everyone I know…. and those I don’t know…. Wow. My best friend lives in Charlotte, NC and eats pizza just about daily!! I can’t wait to tell her about Pure Pizza…. which I bet she doesn’t frequent!
My friend Adrienne is a clinical researcher and the creator of this website after her husband’s alzheimer’s diagnosis turned out to be MSG. She has worked tirelessly for years to get the word out and actively lobby against it’s use. http://www.truthinlabeling.org/
What do you think you’re getting when you pay 8.95 for two meduim size pizzas. My favorite review was one where the reviewer said that every time he eats at one of these all you-can-eat-for-cheap pizza joints “he got sick, but at least it was cheap”.
Thanks for caring Vani.
Can you tell me what pizza you are enjoying in the photo of you (and Pizza in box) above?
Thanks. Keep up the good work.
-je
Pizza parlors are not the only ones loaded with MSG. Check out the ever popular Chik-Fil-A (eat mor MSG). For example http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Food/Menu-Detail/ChickfilA-Chicken-Sandwich#?details=ingredients
Glad I’m a soy free (as much as humanly possible) vegetarian.
Great article, but where are your sources about the effects of these ingredients? I’d love to read more about them.
Rebecca, there is this site called Google. You should try it! Don’t just sit there and expect everyone else to do the leg-work for you. If you really want to know, you’d get pro-active.
Yikes!, and I thought yoga mats in bread was bad. Makes me wonder if the pizza corp’s use yoga mat ingredients and just haven’t been called out on it yet.
I’t’s OK to splurge and eat the crap (junk) food once in awhile.. it does taste good!!! but cooking organic should dominate your nutrition.
Way to go Quincy bury your head in the sand like the majority of America! You probably still think Elvis is alive too!
Food Babe,
Great article, and as consumers this is incentive to support local traditional pizza places. There are Mom and Pop shops that are serving traditional healthy food, but FrankenChains make it difficult for them to do business. Vote with your pocket book. Settebello’s Pizza is Nevada and Utah is another example of a traditional pizza place.
http://settebello.net/
Wouldn’t eat in a fast food restaurant if you paid me!! It’s all poison and I am sick of the ignorance of our food and drug administration. Trying to make us believe this crap is healthy is insulting. All you have to do is eat it once and experience the side effects of a bloated, gassy stomach ache plus head ache to realize there is nothing good or nutritious in this food. Food babe you are the greatest!
The FDA is NOT ignorant. They are being paid off by the mega corporations that now govern our country. What most Americans don’t realize is that our government is simply the puppet of Corporate America. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
OMG! This is crazy! Good thing is I don’t order pizza in none of those places. I been buying a slice at whole foods, the dough, the sauce and the cheese are organic. But the dough is still white and not whole wheat! Thanks Vani!
My “discovery” of MSG in chips is what got me started in my whole new way of eating, thinking, and living! I will never forget how shocked I was to see that ingredient on a label because for some reason I was under the impression that since we all knew MSG was bad the FDA made sure that it was out of our food supply. What a rude awakening that was. The deceivers did their job to make sure I was in the dark, but now I know it is worse than any of us could imagine! Keep exposing them Food Babe! We got to “wake em” (the people) then “Shake em”(big food industry)!!!!!
Thank You !
I started experimenting with this recipe about 2 weeks ago and fell in love, and so did my husband, who is a very picky eater!!! It’s now one of my go to meals! Thanks Vani for educating us and making this so easy!
Cellulose (wood pulp) is in any packaged grated cheese you buy at the store. (even organic.) It’s what keeps the cheese from clumping together. So if you’re making pizza at home and you want to avoid it, grate your own cheese.
Yes! Always grate your own cheese ~ it tastes so much better!! In addition to being healthier… 🙂
As for the place you recommended that uses olive oil, most olive oils are not what they claim to be, according to an in-depth article in The New Yorker. Olive oil might actually be flavored soy oil. Buyer beware.
Although I agree with much of what you say, and I certainly feel that many of these items are harmful to human health, I do not agree with the condemnation of MSG. Without going into a detailed defense, I can say that people who tout the Japanese diet as one of the healthiest in the world and tout the Japanese people as one of the healthiest peoples in the world usually ignore the fact that the Japanese have the highest per capita consumption of MSG in the world.
Jim
Your thorough article is inspiring me to make more time for homemade pizza night with my kids. At least we can be sure of most ingredients that way.
the pepperoni is goat meat I have seen the buyers from dominos pizza hut little ceasars buying goats hoew do you know if its real real pepp will bowl imatation will stay flat remeber these goats are not regulated and checked for disease
“In a study performed by Tarasoff and Kelly (1993) 71 fasting participants were given 5 g of MSG and then administered a standard breakfast. There was only one reaction, and it was to the placebo in a self-identified MSG-sensitive individual.” (see M. Freeman’s “Reconsidering the effects of monosodium glutamate: A literature review”)
“In a different study done by Geha et al. (2000), they tested the reaction of 130 subjects who reported sensitivity to MSG. Multiple DBPC trials were performed and only subjects with at least two symptoms proceeded. Only two people out of the whole study responded in all four challenges. Because of this low prevalence, the researchers concluded that the response to MSG was not reproducible.” (see A.N. Willams and K. M. Woessner’s “Monosodium glutamate ‘allergy’: menace or myth?”)
There is no evidence to support the claim that MSG is as bad as it’s bade out to be. Over the past 100+ years that the additive has been used, hundreds of studies have been conducted on the chemical, and not much evidence has cropped up to support the idea that MSG has any negative effects (or, at least, not from the typical dosages the FDA has approved). Suffice to say, any anger towards those using MSGs is simply unwarranted.