Major Update: October 11, 2016 (See bottom of post)
Growing up, every time I would get sick, my mom would offer to make Jello. She thought it was easy on the stomach, like so many other moms out there. In grade school, I would get Jello almost every day either in my lunch via those cute little snack packs or in the lunch line. Into my early adult life, every time I would visit the local K&W cafeteria restaurant with my parents, I would choose Jello and put it on my tray right next to the other dessert I would get. The cafeteria restaurant categorized Jello in the same section as the salad, so logically Jello was just a side, right? Then when I was 22, as soon as my inflamed appendix was cut out of my body, I ate Jello at the hospital too. It was the only thing I could eat…so I thought.
I think it’s pretty obvious that Jello isn’t healthy to many of us that now read ingredient lists, however, I still think something isn’t clear to the majority because this Kraft product is still on shelves making big money. The information I want to share today will hopefully make it more apparent to everyone around us that Jello is one of the sorriest excuses for a treat – one that no one should be eating! Period.
Why is Jello still around?
Jello was losing market share about 10 years ago, so Kraft targeted their marketing of Jello to people following the Atkins diet by pushing their sugar-free puddings and Jello as acceptable snacks – and it worked. Lots of people were buying up sugar-free Jello to satisfy their sweet tooth while on the Atkins diet and saying ridiculous things like “it’s a sweet cheat and it’s only 1 carb!”.
Years later, it has somehow kept its reputation as a diet food. I was flipping through a magazine yesterday and came across a recipe for a low-calorie “Faux Fondue” using sugar-free Jello chocolate pudding, as if it was a healthy alternative to real fondue. I’ve seen several other low calorie recipes on Pinterest that use Jello to make treats. I even read that a food blogger was thinking about replacing one of her meals with sugar-free Jello to help her lose weight after hearing that it worked for John Malkovich. That has got to be one of the unhealthiest ways I’ve seen to lose weight, so of course, I am going to send her this blog post.
Sure, sugar-free Jello is low in calories – but at what cost?
Now that Atkins has declined in popularity, Kraft announced that they changed their target – and are now targeting families with an advertising campaign that they call “Fun Things Up”. Dan O’Leary, Kraft’s senior director of marketing for desserts said, “The goal is to re-establish Jell-O’s ‘core purpose’ of ‘food for fun’…what Jell-O has that a lot of brands don’t have is that fun angle….In the ads, we’re really trying to play off the imaginative quality of the brand.”
There is nothing “fun” about the ingredients in Jello.
This is what you will really find in the average box of Jello:
No-Fun Ingredient #1: Artificial Colors
If you go shopping in Europe and find Jello on the shelves at the supermarket it has a big fat warning label on the nutrition label stating:
“May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
That should be enough information for you to put the product back down, but here in America, our government is co-opted by big food corporations like Kraft that fight these warning labels. Actually, Kraft knows their products that contain artificial food dye have risks for children, but still markets their products that contain them to children. It’s one of the most immoral and unethical practices I have ever seen.
Removing artificial dyes from our food is so important, especially in light of the new Purdue University study showing the extreme amounts of dyes being used in everyday foods here in the U.S. Sure, artificial colors have always been listed on the ingredient label, but now we know how much – and it’s astounding. The study data shows that a small ½ cup serving of Orange Jello contains 12.2 mg. of artificial colors, and that there are 9 mg. in the Black Cherry and nearly 7 mg. in the Strawberry flavor. This is more than they found in most Freezer Pops or 15 conventional gummy bears. They believe that with a combination of foods, kids “could easily consume 100 mg of dyes in a day”, which is well over the amount shown to cause reactions.
Jello uses Blue #1 in several of their flavors. This is one of the worst colors out there because it has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and “in 2003, the FDA asked doctors to stop [adding Blue 1 to enteral feedings] since patients were dying, not from their disease, but from the Blue number 1, which apparently caused refractory hypotension and metabolic acidosis”. But – the FDA still allows this “Fun” ingredient in Jello.
Another popular Jello product is their pudding mixes. I’ve already written extensively about Yellow #5 and Yellow #6, which are still being used in regular Kraft Mac n Cheese and in many Jello products. Check out the ingredients on this box of Jello instant pudding both sugar free and regular (there’s not much difference):
No-Fun Ingredient #2: Artificial Sweeteners
One of the worst ingredients in this pudding is the artificial sweetener Acesulfame Potassium, which is sometimes referred to as “Ace-K”. It’s on the Center for Science in Public Interest’s list of ingredients to avoid, because not enough research has been done to show that it is safe to consume. Marvin Schneiderman, Ph.D., Former Associate Director of Field Studies and Statistics at the National Cancer Institute stated, “I find the actual studies and the data analysis seriously flawed. New tests, properly designed, executed, and analyzed are needed. The usual consequences of poor tests is to make it harder to find any effects. Despite the low quality of the studies reported to you, I find that there is evidence of carcinogenicity.” This ingredient clearly should not be in our food.
The other artificial sweetener in sugar-free Jello pudding is one that I avoid at ALL costs – aspartame. According to the American College of Cardiology, a new study found a startling 50% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease in women who regularly consumed two or more aspartame diet drinks per day. Another large study linked aspartame to an increased risk of lymphomas, leukemias, and transitional cell carcinomas of the pelvis, ureter, and bladder. The evidence has been mounting against aspartame for a very long time, but food manufacturers continue to use it. Check out this eye-opening 60 Minutes episode that aired in 1996 and exposed why aspartame was approved by the FDA in the first place – despite dangers found in safety studies and its link to brain tumors.
As if those aren’t enough reasons to steer clear of aspartame, don’t believe for one minute that it will help you lose weight. Although it has no calories, artificial sweeteners have been shown to contribute to weight gain by encouraging sugar cravings – which is the complete opposite effect that most people would expect. This study showed that replacing sugar with aspartame simply increased hunger and the subjects compensated by eating more calories.
No-Fun Ingredient #3: Sugar
One serving of regular Jello contains 19 grams of sugar, which is the same as almost 5 teaspoons. This can really add up – and the amount of sugar consumption in this country is really out of control. A new study just came out which showed that childhood diabetes has skyrocketed with a shocking 30% increase in childhood type 2 diabetes from 2000 to 2009. This is a disease that was considered “adult onset”, but now is regularly diagnosed in children. Nearly all of the calories in Jello come from sugar alone, so it’s really no different than gelled sugar water. Another thing to consider is where that sugar comes from – and the answer may surprise you.
No-Fun Ingredient #4: GMOs
The sugar that is used in regular Jello is not specified as “cane sugar” and almost all “sugar” found in processed food in the U.S. comes from GMO sugar beets. So, it’s a pretty safe bet that the sugar in Jello is from GMO sugar beets. Also, the first two ingredients in sugar-free Jello pudding – modified cornstarch and maltodextrin – are likely derived from genetically modified corn. Keep in mind that Kraft spent over $2 million dollars to fight GMO labeling in California and plans to sue Vermont in coming weeks – so they don’t want to tell us whether their products contain GMOs. Why should you care?
According to GMO Myths and Truths: An evidence-based examination of the claims made for the safety and efficacy of genetically modified crops and foods: ”GM foods can be toxic, allergenic, or have unintended nutritional changes” and “Researchers who publish studies that find harm from GM crops are attacked”. I could go on, but I encourage you to read the full report written by John Fagan, Ph.D., Michael Antoniou, Ph.D., and Claire Robinson here.
No-Fun Ingredient #5: BHA
Countries all over the globe have banned BHA and for good reason. Jello uses BHA (which is short for Butylated Hydroxyanisole) as a preservative. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies BHA as a possible human carcinogen and it’s been deemed a “reasonably anticipated human carcinogen” by the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, National Toxicology Program “based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals”. There is no reason this ingredient belongs in our food, especially since Kraft has voluntarily removed it other countries.
The only redeeming ingredient in Jello is gelatin (sort of)
To be honest, when I found out what gelatin was made from (animals bones) I was a bit disgusted – however – after really looking into it I’ve found that gelatin has some redeeming health benefits. You can easily make healthy Jello at home with organic fresh pressed juice and either grass-fed gelatin or organic porcine gelatin. Since it is an animal product, it’s crucial that you carefully choose your gelatin and that it doesn’t come from factory-farmed animals that were subjected to antibiotics, artificial hormones and GMO feed.
You can also find better alternatives in pudding mixes, such as this European Gourmet Bakery brand that is organic (free of GMOs, BHT, and colors). Keep in mind that this pudding is still high in sugar, so you don’t want to go crazy – save this for an occasional sweet treat.
Also, you can use these recipes for homemade Jello from some of my favorite bloggers online here:
- Mama Natural – Fruit Juice Jello
- Wellness Mama – Pineapple Jello
- Detoxinista – Grape Jello
- CheeseSlave – Kombucha Jello
We need to warn our friends, family, schools and hospitals.
If you know someone who is still eating or buying Jello – please share this post with them. Does your child’s school still serve this horrible stuff? Or maybe it’s your local hospital? Send this post to them too. Spread the word about Jello like wild fire #FoodBabeArmy! That’s how we are going to put an end to this nonsense once and for all!
Xo,
Vani
Update: October 11, 2016
Back in 2014, when I shared this investigation above about the toxic ingredients in Jell-O and how disgusting it is that Kraft continues to make this product. Millions of children are exposed to Jell-O in schools and daycares across the country – not to mention all the sick people who are fed Jell-O in hospitals. This investigation has been read by millions of people since it was posted and the Food Babe Army spread the word.
Jell-O is preserved with the harmful preservative BHA – an ingredient linked to cancer that is banned across the globe. The typical box of Jell-O is filled with GMO sugar and artificial colors like Red #40 that both require warning labels in Europe. These artificial colors are derived from petroleum and linked to behavioral problems in children. Kraft knows that artificial food dyes pose these risks, but still markets Jell-O to children.
That’s why I’ve railed hard against their use of artificial colors and launched a successful campaign to get the artificial yellow dye out of their mac n’cheese. I just knew that if we targeted this popular product, that it would lead to greater change.
And it has! The snowball revolution keeps growing!
Kraft just came out with a new line of Jell-O gelatins and puddings without any artificial food dyes or the preservative BHA…
OLD VERSION Jell-O Orange: Sugar, Gelatin, Adipic Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Fumaric Acid, Yellow 6, Red 40, BHA.
NEW VERSION Jell-O Simply Good Orange Tangerine: Cane Sugar, Gelatin, Dried Orange Juice, Adipic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Fumaric Acid, Natural Flavor, Oleoresin Turmeric and Beet Juice.People stopped buying Jell-O and look what they had to do!
While this new version is not what I consider healthy, I can’t help but think about all of the children who will no longer be exposed to artificial colors and BHA due to this change. The less harmful and risky ingredients in our food supply, the better!
When we demand better, food companies have no choice but to change.
Other major brands have made a commitment to remove artificial food dyes too! Everyone from M&M’s, Skittles, Starburst, Panera Bread, Lucky Charms, Trix, Campbell’s Soup, Pepperidge Farm, Swanson, Fruit Loops, Yoplait, Twizzlers, Apple Jacks, to Fruit by the Foot… the list goes on! It is going to take some of these companies a few years – but at least they are doing it.
I truly believe that artificial dyes in our food will be ancient history in just a few years!
Beware that the old toxic version of Jell-O with artificial colors and BHA is still in stores and this is just a new line that they have created – so continue to check the ingredient list on any product you buy!
My hope is that Kraft will make this change to their entire product line, including the pre-made cups of Jell-O gelatins and puddings that so many kids pack in their lunchbox every day. It’s a shame these products are even allowed to be sold in grocery stores – now that there is a safer alternative available.
Stay loud and keep making your voice heard – it’s working. Ask grocery stores for what you want and they will carry it.
Thank you Food Babe Army for continuing to rock the food industry!
Thank you once again Food Babe for you in depth info about the junk in our food! You have opened up my eye up and I have become an avid food label reader and oragnic food consumer. Keep up the great work!
I find it interesting how many people value their opinion and try to push it on others just because they feel that because they know something, it is right. I spend a lot of time educating myself as to what is best to put into my body and feed my family. If you really want to dumb yourself down go to a university and try to get your education. I find there is little common sense out there and even fewer people willing to take responsibility for their own health. The facts are the facts and you have to be a complete moron to not understand that what you put into your body has a very direct impact on your health. Research AGES and you will find a lot of research pointing at the direct link between sugar and processed food consumption and the creation of free radicals and inflammation in our bodies. Use pubmed.org to research your ingredients and you will find that “The Food Babe” really is right on the money. Why is our society so sick from disease if our medicine and Doctors really have the answers. When you want to find out the real reasons for our problems, you can usually trace the money. Take responsibility for your own health and don’t let others do your thinking for you.
Brian, you state:
“If you really want to dumb yourself down go to a university and try to get your education. ”
“Use pubmed.org to research your ingredients and you will find that “The Food Babe” really is right on the money. ”
I just want to make sure that you realize that the abstracts posted in PubMed are published by scientists who have earned their degrees from universities? While I too love Food Babe and encourage everyone to research what they choose to consume, why must you make degrading remarks about a college degree in the process? Especially since you reaffirm the value of a degree later in your comment by stating that everyone should use PubMed (PubMed Central has full articles available by the way!), articles from which are produced by degree-carrying scientists.
Let’s all remember that multinationals like Kraft have PR teams that troll the internet writing comments just like the first 2 in this thread in order to discredit information that hurts them. Could those be from Kraft?
Thank you Vani for educating us on what we’re putting in our bodies. If all these haters actually did some research themselves they’d see that what you’re saying is absolutely true. The best bet is to avoid processed foods all together and grow and cook your own food from scratch, but in this “modern” world that can be a little difficult, especially for people living in apartments or with little time on their hands. So under these circumstances your advice is much appreciated and welcome. Thanks again for making the world a little bit better.
Thanks Christopher! I know Vani appreciates fans like you 🙂
Jon, and need some clarity,
You know what? She does a GREAT service for her readers. Those of us who don’t always have the time to dig into a subject. She’s the go to gal on these matter.
Mine is religion/bible. I can assure you, I could debate you under the table on such.
So don’t dog on intelligent people who didn’t enter the American educational student loan debt matrix, just to get a paper saying they took a test and passed it.
The information highway is here and running well. The truth is out there, and one can learn how to sort out the good from the bad, if they just take the time.
Quit complaining. Guarantee you Vani knows more about these food matters than you do!
Keep up your great crusade Vani, appreciate all you do!
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication!! It is greatly appreciated by those of us who want to make better eating choices and lifestyle.
Wah wah wahhhh I’m gonna go eat jello. If there’s something for people to complain about in the world, there’s also a blog about it. I suppose vaccinations are bad too.
Troll much?
It’s freakin jello. It jiggles, it’s almost see through, and it’s colored. And yet people need to discuss how something with those attributes is not healthy.
Yes, vaccines ARE poison. Are you dumbed down to all that’s been going on in the world for years now? I pray for God to open your eyes. There are many things to worry about in the food supply, and not just food dyes, look at the other ingredients, google them and see. And let us not forget the GMO food that’s going to take over the food supply because they are killing the bees off with the poisons as well. Sheesh, wish people would pray for wisdom! I believe you are a troll!
Vaccines are not poison. I am an immunologist and stand by this comment. I am not sure why you believe vaccines are poison. Also, I live in Northern Europe. I cannot find Jello on any shelves in my grocery store, however, we do have gelatin products. I will be sure to look out for JELLO next time and see if there is actually a warning label.
Mr Immunologist, this is your field and how you make money so of course you will tell me vaccines are not poison. However, that said, perhaps in Northern Europe, thy are different from the ones here. We have more sick kids now, than we have ever had. ADD, ADHD and Autism are an epidemic. You tell me the ingredients in your vaccines are different, and then I will believe in Northern Europe they are not poison. But here in the U.S.A, they are POISON.
Well Mr. Immunologist, if Natural News testing the current flu vaccine and finding 25,000 times the legal limit for mercury isn’t fact of poison (see link http://intellihub.com/natural-news-tests-flu-vaccine-heavy-metals-finds-25000-times-higher-mercury-level-epa-limit-water/) perhaps the CDC will convince you.
In 1999 CDC epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Verstraeten, MD, issued a paper which was hidden away but subsequently obtained via Freedom of Information Act by a member of the U.S. Congress in the summer of 2013. Here is its findings:
Methods: We categorized the cumulative ethylmercury exposure from Thimerosal containing vaccines after one month of life and assessed the subsequent risk of degenerative and developmental neurologic disorders and renal disorders before the age of six. We applied proportional hazard models adjusting for HMO year of birth, and gender, excluding premature babies.
Results: We identified 286 children with degenerative and 3702 with developmental disorders, and 310 with renal disorders. [….] Within this group we also found an elevated risk for the following disorders: autism (RR 7.6. 95% Cl = 1.8-31.5), non organic sleep disorders (RR 5.0. 95% Cl = 1.6-15.9), and speech disorders (RR 2.1. 95% (1=1.1-4.0).
Thank you food babe for all your reserch I have read articlels from other sources on these matters and what you have presented is right on the money. We all need to learn about what is in our food becauce no one in our government seems to be lookimg out for us. We have to be our own watch dogs if we want to stay healthy and keep uou families safe.
I am not an expert on food. But dye# and GMO’s and all the chemicals I know in my heart are not good for the body. We were built to eat food grown out of the Earth, clean and untainted. You don’t need a college degree to know that the food the major corporations are marketing out there is not for us, it is for PROFIT. I am glad more people are demanding the FDA makes swift changes. I am with you.
One other thing that is disturbing is that they label it a Kosher when it is actually porcine based because the “chemical” process they put it through actually changes it to the point that it is no longer considered meat by the FDA. This is a sad example of how people who try to eat kosher/halal foods are mislead and lied to. Food labels should also specify if the gelatin is porcine, beef or fish based.
Hi T
is tat tru for yogurt also?
thanks
Give me a break. It’s Jello for heavens sake. There are so many worse products on the market that families are feeding their children. Get a life Food Babe!
Who do you work for Monsanto or the FDA?
Terry,
Maybe you should read the blog again and research some of the things that you don’t think are bad in jello. Of course there are many foods that families consume that are worse. At least we have someone informing the public of the health implications. I’m willing to bet the food manufacturers don’t feed this crap to their families. I agree with John. Who do you work for????
You must have burst some bubbles Vani.. Great job exposing the corruption in our food chain. Its about time people realized its all about the all mighty dollar. For the most part the industry could care less about the long-term health implications. I’ve been a loud voice with family and friends for years about this. Keep up the good work.
Many of the people posting replies here are very clearly in denial. They think they can have their Jello and eat it, too.
Well, you can have your Jello, but don’t say a word when you are about to go under the surgeon’s knife or worse yet, dying. You have been warned. You need not fall down and worship your Jello, but that is your choice.
If you cannot overcome a spoonful of taste, have at it!
I appreciate what the “Food Babe” is doing. Is she alsways perfect and have all the abloutely correct infomation?.. Of course not…but shes into food education which is what all of us need to do, because the people that are in charge of all of what we eat only have one thing on their minds….and that is PROFIT.
We need to start thinking and educate ourselves. Her only motive is to make all of us healher human beings.
CAN YOU GO AFTER COZYSHACK SIMPLY WELL. I JUST TRIED TO CONTACT THEM AND I TRIED 2 DIFFERENT BROWSERS AND IT WON’T SUBMIT. HERE IS WHAT I WROTE: LOVE YOUR RICE PUDDING. BUT YESTERDAY I BOUGHT THIS RICE PUDDING AND WAS IN FOR A SHOCK. NOW YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME JUSTIFICATIONS ON WHY YOU ARE WITHIN THE LAW TO LABEL YOUR PRODUCT THIS WAY, AND HOW YOU ARE WITHIN LEGAL REGULATIONS, ETC. AND YES I WAS FOOLED, SO IT WORKED. BUT YOU HAVE LOST A LIFETIME CONSUMER FOR THIS SHORTSIGHTED MISLABEL. HERE IS WHY – THIS PRODUCT IS LABEL AS “MADE WITH SIMPLE, WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS”. WHICH BY THE WAY IS WHY I LIKE RICE PUDDING, AND MOST FOOD. THERE IS NOTHING SIMPLE AND WHOLESOME ABOUT ‘SUCRALOSE’ . FIRST OF ALL IT ARTIFICIALLY MADE IN A LAB BY SCIENTISTS WHICH ISN’T SIMPLE BY ANY STANDARD. SECOND IT ALMOST NEVER BREAKSDOWN IN NATURE WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHOLESOME. I ATE THIS SCIENTIFIC NIGHTMARE AND HAD ITS EXCITOTOXITY ALL OVER MY MOUTH FOR HOURS AFTERWARD, MOUTHWASH COULDN’T EVEN CLEANSE MY PALATE.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU SERIOUSLY RECONSIDER THIS GROSS MISLABELING . I AM VOTING WITH M Y DOLLARS AND STAYING AWAY FROM YOUR BRAND UNTIL YOU DO SO.
why gelatin at all?!!
especially since it’s really hard to tell if it really is so, the meat industry is much too tainted
vegan gelatin alternatives:
I like the sound of agar-agar, don’t really have need for gelatin or like items, but that’s what I would start with.
more on peta’s site:
http://www.peta.org/living/food/gelatin-alternatives/
It has been my experience that the information I am interested in is no longer coming from those with all the credentials. Just look to EPA, FDA, USDA – all tasked with protecting our health and the environment, but seem bought off by big corps whose only motivation is greed. I see this blog as a service providing info. Look also to the major university research done that is funded by big ag or chemical companies. Can their research be trusted? They always rule in favor of whomever paid them the most money. With 80,000 chemicals in our food and covering our planet, few tested by independent research, we have to protect ourselves by avoiding as many as possible. So I really appreciate what I have seen of this blog
Thank you for your work, Vani. Most people do not read. Many have university degrees and think they know all there is to know and stagnate on that level. Education should be ongoing.
My love around you,
C
After my c-section I had to be on a liquid diet…and they kept giving me jello. It was disgusting. I was getting such a headache from all the sugar. I finally had to request plain broth. I never understood why hospitals would feed such unhealthy trash. Thanks for posting!
Yuck! Sadly I hear stories like that all of the time. I am glad you enjoyed the post Allyson!
My cousin left this message when I shared your article on JELL-O on Facebook..
“Aunt Rose’s brother worked at Kodak in the 70’s. I remember him telling us that some of the chemicals used at Kodak were also used in Jello. There was a plant near Burlington, MA. We ate Jello all through childhood…did not do us any harm. I am sure that some of those products were in Jello then.”
“This Childhood Favorite Has A Warning Label In Europe – Why Not Here?”
What warning? I live in Europe and I’ve never seen one. explain.
She already did explain. It’s right after no fun ingredient #1. Did you even bother to read the story?
@John. I also live in Europe. I have read the article and have read No-fun ingredient #1. She DOES NOT explain why we Europeans do not see this claimed warning label. Can you send the quote where she does?
Not sure why my reply didn’t show up. I also live in Europe (Benelux area) to be more specific. I read the article and re-read the section after no fun ingredient #1. I also do not find this warning label and do not see where she explains why we do not see the warning label in the EU, but the title of her article claims that there is one. Can you please quote where she explains this? Perhaps I missed it.
Please note, it is very difficult to find jello on the shelves of the local supermarkets here. You would have to go to the special “American/English” supermarket to get it. At least in the city I live in (I cannot speak for other countries/cities). There are other JELLO products. I have not checked to see if they are from the same retailer that makes JELLO brand. These products are not available for purchase at your local supermarket. However, you cannot purchase from French grocery products either. Things like Oreos are available in the local supermarket.
It would be great is “Foodbabe” could actually provide us with some scanned copies of the warning labels found on JELLO boxes in the EU.
“Since 2010, the European Union has required food manufacturers to place a warning label on all products with artificial food dyes declaring that they “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.” A US Food and Drug Administration advisory committee, however, voted against adding warning labels in 2011 and has not revisted the issue since then.” (pubbed in The Boston Globe 9 May 2014)
As a vegetarian I stopped eating Jell-O and gelatin based products years ago. I’d say that was a wise decision.
Yes, I ate it as a kid, but as an adult, forget it. How can anyone eat anything that tastes like tupperware – if you can find any taste at all (except the artificial whipped cream topping, of course!)
In addition to this report , it should also be noted and considered the Gelatin is made from the BONES of animals. Much like Glue which is also made from bones. It IS the MAIN ingredient of gelatin. That being said… It should be understood that an animal with an infectious disease such as bovine leukemia and the well known, “Mad Cow” disease, are capable of being transmitted through the bones or “gelatin” of an Infected animal. This is not a guess , but a studied scientific fact. which has only recently surfaced . The gelatin of any animal, just like the diseases the animal carries are most definitely transmittable. Not limited to bovine (cows ) but also, swine and poultry .
BHA (preservative) used to prolong shelf life is not a substance that is “broken down” by the human body and therefore remains in the bloodstream. We don”t know where it goes or how the human body can even expel it, much like hydrogenated foods which can remain on a shelf for months or longer, (I.E.) Snickers bars . Which is believed to remain in your body forever.
Wow! I have consumed tons of jello as its cheap on a fixed income. Thanks for the info.
OMG, my favorite memories of my Grandmother are JELLO. She always had Jello ready for the grandkids. How much have I eaten? Interestingly, I rarely touch it since adulthood. It is a staple in Buffet lines, but I avoid those too.
It’s about time we stop marketing junk to kids. Keep getting this info out.
If you do some research on MSG and glutamate, you will find that gelatin–even organic gelatin, is high in glutamate (I think the number I saw was 11%). This includes the gelatin in Jello and that found in marshmallows. People who are sensitive to glutamate often react to these things. But experts like Russel Blaylock have reviewed the evidence and found free floating glutamate (and MSG) to be a neurotoxin, just like aspartame. That means these things actually KILL BRAIN CELLS.
Thanks for your comment Jordana. According to Great Lakes Gelatin’s website, their gelatin does not contain free glutamate acid. The glutamate acid in their gelatin is bound to the protein chain. This link has more information and their lab results: http://www.greatlakesgelatin.com/consumer/noMSG.php
Basically you can rely on the fact, that “You are what you eat”
The crushed up bones are the healthiest part sad to say…I know Jello was not made this way when our grandmothers were growing up.
Ugh, yuck! I’m glad I never bought into Jello, even before we went the natural/organic route with our family! I make my own, SO much yummier and so healthy, good for their teeth, the kids LOVE it! Here is my recipe: http://www.eco-babyz.com/2013/11/tooth-remineralizing-gelatin-dessert.html
It would be nice if you actually knew what you are talking about. Probably made from petroleum. You have know idea so you start bashing. do through research before you start putting people out of jobs. Stop using pseudo science.
Most food dyes are made from petroleum. Why don’t you do your research? What say you about the other ingredients she mentioned?
And why don’t you stop putting jobs over the poisoning of children?
Read your jello article day before colon test. I had already eaten 3 bowls of jello over 3 days. After reading I put it out for the chickens as a cooling treat. They would not eat it. That told me something. It rained in the bowl 2 days. It did not melt? Why? A week later it looks like it just came out of the frig. After being outside in the rain and sun for a week. Amazing
Hello,
I would please like to know, about Coconut Palm Sugar, how does it compare to:
Raw sugar, or Turbinado sugar, or Mazcabado sugar.
Thank you,
Mary
It’s sad that the patients at the hospital are mostly served this because of how easy it is for them..
no one will believe me about the true identity of gelatin
I make homemade pudding with milk, cocoa powder and/or vanilla, butter, sugar of choice, and cornstarch. It’s easy peasy actually, and since you can control the ingredients, it’s relatively “clean.”
I believe that Jello is the devil. This is my first day at this website so forgive me if this has already been explored: What about Kool-Aid? Food coloring and sugar. I can’t believe my friends give this to their kids. Mine are not allowed to have it.
Just wanted to comment back from my original comments on this site. My point was originally is that it is time for people to take personal responsibility for educating themselves. The fact the you go to a university or not does not make you intelligent. The toughest responsibility I have as a parent is teaching my children how to find the truth , because there is so much eranious information out there and a lot of it is opinion based and not fact based. Yea the information published on Pub med is published by scientist and students in many cases. And I do respect it. I’m just not the guy that thinks a person is so smart because they attended some great university. I have come to think almost anything that involves money is taintable these days. So do your own research and once someone like Vani has gained your trust, listen to what he has to say and keep educating yourself about everything you can when it comes to you and your family staying healthy. Why not put all the odds in your favor.
Agree completely that we all need to think critically and do our own research, and no, you don’t need a degree to do that! I think Vani’s info is generally sound but I try to carry out my own research in most cases.
I’m really surprised the orange Jell-O doesn’t have more dyes in it. Maybe it just doesn’t take much to make orange, ha.
FDA, government (campaigning crooks), and the food industry is rampant with poisons. Intentionally poisonous in most cases.
thanks Vani for opening SOME peoples’ eyes and those of you that debunk healthy information…may God stomp you soon.
Anyone have a good source or recommendation for a vegan gelatin? Thanks!
Whole Foods carries vegetarian gelatin, and if you don’t have a Whole Foods nearby you can search for it online or find it in some kosher and halal stores (though they can also source gelatin from fish).
You can also make a delicious and simple gelatin dessert with agar agar and fruit juice.
Sadly Vani, this is corporate America now. Wall Street has sucked the honesty, integrity, and community out of every single American corporation.
It’s all about maximizing profits at all costs and scalability… they absolutely don’t care who they hurt.
Just watched this news story on Al Jazeera regarding America’s “greatest” company–Boeing. Watch it and you’ll see how low they will and have gone.
Scary stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvkEpstd9os
Vani, you really confuse me at times. I follow you because you do some great work weeding out ingredients that are not healthy. But how can you say its not okay to consume small amounts of unhealthy ingredients but it is okay to consume gelatin??? I’m sure you realize that a animal must die for this to happen, grass fed or not. I just don’t get you sometimes.
What is also heartbreaking is how popular of a product Jello is in hospitals.
My mom has always attributed her cancer to following the Atkins’ Diet so many years ago. She used to consume so many of those little Jell-o cups because they claimed it was a healthy, good snack for the Atkins Diet (just like you said in her article). My mom has become a changed woman since she had her breast cancer, however, and we are no longer fooled by those false and horrifying ad claims. No more Jell-o for us. Thanks for getting the word out, Food Babe. 🙂
We all eat a lot of things that can be seen as “not so good” but as long as we use moderation we’re all gonna be fine. I think it’s interesting to see the food labels in Europe vs America, but at the end of the day, I eat the food I like and I use moderation. Stop judging people, live and let live. No one is getting hurt here…
Everyone has different tolerances- however the evidence you present and that found by a driven mom -(read at http://www.unblindmymind.org ) makes it hard to ignore that the combination and quantity does effect us. Thank you food babe for your energy.
You won’t find Jello in the supermarkets here in the netherlands.Certain poisons are just not available to you here.So not all of Europe post warning labels.They simply don’t sell it to you in the first place.