Nutrition labeling and the dangers that could be hiding

By Marilyn Kennedy
We are all pretty conscientious about reading food labels, especially those of us who have or who are caretakers for loved ones who have serious illnesses, allergies, and/or dietary restrictions.

I recently went to the outpatient lab at my local hospital to have a routine blood draw. About halfway through, I began to pass out so the phlebotomist had me put my head between my knees, put a cold compress on the back of my neck, and offered me a juice box.

I had the presence of mind to ask if the juice contained sugar. The response was, “I don’t know.”
I took one or two sips of the “juice” but it tasted odd to me so I didn’t finish it. When I got home, out of curiosity, I read the ingredients label … which took up an entire side of the juice container!

The first thing that struck me was the bolded statement: Contains no juice.

The first ingredients were water, sugar, corn syrup solids, whey protein isolates, artificial flavors … and a long list of additives and preservatives. This was just chemical soup!

I have a severe multi-glandular autoimmune disorder and I am in recovery from cancer. I have many food sensitivities and dietary restrictions including no sugar, dairy, or food additives. Unfortunately, I thought I was safe in a medical care facility. I was really surprised that a medical professional working in a hospital lab would offer a food product to a patient without asking about their medical conditions or any food allergies, sensitivities or dietary restrictions they might have.

So … please read food labels not just at the grocery store but in hospitals, labs, outpatient care centers, and urgent care facilities.