MYTHS AND FACTS RELATED TO INDUSTRIALIZED PEANUTS
The analysis of the samples of 416 peanuts reveals the facts valid to bring down myths related to industrialized products.
MYTH: THEY ARE POOR IN NUTRIENTS
FACT: THEY ARE NUTRITIVE, THEY CONTAIN SIGNIFICANT CONTENT OF FIBERS, ALSO PROTEINS, IN ADDITION TO OTHER NUTRIENTS CONSIDERED AS IMPORTANT FOR HUMAN NUTRITION
- The nutritional composition can be incremented as ingredients are mixed to cocoa, oar, etc.
- They can contain significant quantities of FIBERS and PROTEINS
- They can also contain vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds
MYTH: THEY HAVE HIGH QUANTITIES OF FAT, SUGAR, AND CALORIES PER GRAM
FACT: THE QUANTITIES OF SUGAR, FAT, AND CALORIES DEPEND ON THE FORMULATION OF RAW MATERIALS USED, BUY THEY VARY SIGNIFICANTLY AND THERE ARE PRODUCTS WITH REDUCED CONTENT OF SUGAR AND FAT, AND ALSO “ZERO-SUGAR” PRODUCTS
- The quantities of SUGAR and SATURATED FATS vary a lot according the different types
- There are products with low SATURATED FAT quantities
- There are versions without SUGAR additions, even among the sweet products
MYTH: THEY HAVE HIGH QUANTITIES OF SODIUM
FACT: MOST PRODUCTS USUALLY HAVE LOW QUANTITIES OF SODIUM
- The quantity of sodium used varies a lot among different brands and different types
- 55,5% of the analyzed products can be considered as VERY LOW in SODIUM
- 69,2% of the analyzed products can be considered as LOW in SODIUM
MYTH: THERE IS LITTLE PRESENCE OF IN NATURA FOOD
FACT: PEANUT IS THE MAIN INGREDIENT OF INDUSTRIALIZED PRODUCTS
- Industrialized peanut products are not made from substances originated from food or synthesized from other organic sources
- Industrialized peanut product are not inventions of the moder science and food technology applied to the industries. They have been created for centuries, and C&T de alimentos evolution only contributed to improve the products quality and safety in the last few decades
MYTH: FALSE BECAUSE THEY ARE PRESENT IN FOOD INGREDIENTS OF INDUSTRIAL USE
FACT: THE EVENTUAL USE OF INDUSTRIAL FOOD CAN OCCUR IS NOT A RULE OF THUMB IN THE SECTOR, AND ALL OF THEM ARE APPROVED BY ANVISA (MINISTRY OF HEALTH) AS SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION
- Some companies use a large quantity of ingredients, however, other don’t
- In an industrial scale, it can be inevitable to use food raw materials in its original state, being its processing necessary. However, the processes used in the ingredients processing or extraction are developed and used in compliance with the technical and safety standards
- The ingredients of industrial use used in some products have technological purposes and are provided in the legislation that authorizes its safe use
MYTH: THEY ARE BAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HIGH NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS
FACT: THE NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS VARIES ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IT IS NOT AN INDICATION OF LACK OF QUALITY, HEALTH, OR SAFETY
- Some companies use a large quantity of ingredients, however, other don’t
- Using a high number of ingredients has no relation with the LOWER quality or safety of a food product. There is no scientific evidence to state that a product with 4 ingredients has a better quality and is safer than another with 5 or more ingredients
MYTH: THEY USE ADDITIVES CAPABLE TO MAKE THE PRODUCT EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE (ADDITIVE)
FACT: THE COMPANY CAN USE ADDITIVES FOR TECHNICAL OR FOOD SAFETY REASONS
- Some companies use many ADDITIVES, for technical or food safety reasons, however, other don’t
- Additives are used in very low quantities in relation to the main ingredients
- Many analyzed products do not use THICKENERS, STABILIZERS, EMULSIFIERS, DYES, FLAVORING and PRESERVATIVES
- There are no news of the existence peanut products with “hyper-flavor”, “hyper-palatable” and “almost addicting”.
- All ADDITIVES used in industrialized peanut products manufacturing are included in the specific legislation that authorizes its safe use, being used for technical and safety reasons for the consumption products.
MYTH: THEY ARE FREQUENTLY ADDED WITH AIR OR WATER
FACT: AIR AND WATER ARE NOT BASIC RAW MATERIALS INCORPORATED IN THE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING
MYTH: THEY ARE BAD BECAUSE THEY HAVE UNFAMILIAR INGREDIENTS NAMES
FACT: IN FACT, SOME INGREDIENTS ARE A LITTLE FAMILIAR, BUT EACH OF THEM HAS ITS PURPOSE. THIS IS ALSO NOT AN INDICATOR OF LACK QUALITY, HEALTH, OR SAFETY
- The additives use technical nomenclature, which is not familiar to many people. But the name has nothing to do with the safety or health of an ingredient
- Peanut products are mainly made with known ingredients and widely consumed by the population
MYTH: THEY USE HARMFUL MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
FACT: THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES ARE SAFE. THE INDUSTRIES OF THE SECTOR USE QUALITY ANS SAFETY SYSTEMS IN THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION PROCESS
- Most processing stages and techniques do not imply in loss of product quality or its inappropriateness for consumption;
- Physical processes are used in the peanut products manufacturing, which are considered as “clean” technologies (Ex: ingredients mix, panning, etc.)
- The existing processing techniques are quite sophisticated, used to preserve the peanut appearance and texture, with dedicated systems in order to ensure the products quality and safety
Learn about the complete study on Industrialized Peanut!
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