In the 21st century, the issues about healthy eating habits are becoming common amongst people. Most people are not practicing a healthy diet nor are they concerned about what they eat. Manufactured food is now common with almost everyone for their “ready to eat” perception, time is an issue for many, and they result in feeding on junk. The quality of manufactured food is not up to standards since everyone is out there to make money. Therefore, there is less concern about what is available for the consumer. It is not clear whether this blame should be laid with the manufacturers or the gullible consumer. It is clear that the only thing consumers know about when purchasing is the product name. If people and the government fail to promote healthy eating habits, then, everyone will continue to suffer from different diseases that are lives threatening. This paper will mainly focus on non-GMOs and organic supplement bars.
Non-GMO products refer to the goods that have been produced free from synthetic additives such as chemical, pesticides, fertilizers and other crop boosters. Organic products, on the other hand, are the products, produced mostly through the natural methods and are raised free from synthetic additives, this means that they are 95% free contamination of any chemicals. They thus become safe for consumption and good for human health.
However, the issue of organic produce is almost a thing of the past. Most of the people, especially farmers have already embraced the use of chemical on every single activity they perform in their farms. This has posed a life-threatening issue to the health of individuals. Therefore, it’s hard therefore to distinguish between organic and non-GMOs produce. The major challenge arises when the chemically produced products fetch good market as a result of their ‘quality.’ This has jeopardized all the efforts of ensuring products free from chemical in the market. In reference to this paper, there is a chocolate brand that has been intercepted due to the concern of its health standards. It has a top selling brand for the company, although its quality is demanding. Manufacturers are not putting in their efforts of ensuring that they provide healthy products to the market for their customers. In order to reach the company, a customer service line 1-800 printed on the chocolates’ package has been of importance. Hence, communication with the manufacturer was easy and also organizing of an appointment day. In order to exhaustively carry out the investigation, a team of four members was selected to search for the issue.
In the same case with the chocolate, it is common to come across brands of juice that are praised for being natural. Brands of different flavors ranging from; mango, pineapple, strawberry, and orange do not have the naturalness in them. According to (George Mateljan Foundation 1), he explains that these juices are not made of the natural fruits and are only made from additives that give them the natural fruit flavors. Therefore, colors are added and flavors. As a result, diseases have become part of human living. Little is being done to solve this slow but sure menace of a fatal outbreak of various diseases.
For the concern of understanding more about chocolate, the team suggested that it would be important to focus on a particular company. In the quest to learn more about chocolate manufacturing, emphasis was laid on a specific company in the United States. The company is referred to as NuGo. It is a renowned processing company specializing in chocolates. Their chocolate is manufactured in a carefully selected manner where organic products such as fiber, are coated with chocolate for added tastes. Chocolates can, therefore, be in the form of candy bars, cocoa cakes, cookies and coatings of other candies. Therefore, chocolate is unique as it is best for the taste of the consumer. This understanding is important as it is clear that chocolate appears in different forms no matter the components used in preparation. NuGo Company makes chocolate bars made from organic products. This is enhanced through the use of carefully selected ingredients. Their products are made in a way that good health is the key guide.
So as to understand the process involved in chocolate making, exploration of various industry processes is important. As explained by (Advameg 1), chocolate is a product of crushed cocoa beans that have been heated under intense temperatures. Heating facilitates drying of the beans and later crushing follows. After crushing, grading is done where qualities are sorted. Before any other activity can be undertaken in the continued process of chocolate making the initial paste can be stored for about 2-3 days for enhancement of the quality. This paste is then mixed with vanilla paste and some sugar added to it for sweetening; this is now the initial process aimed at achieving of the expected product. The paste is referred to another processing unit where it is heated so as to dry it. The solid chocolate is then taken through the packaging and sorting stage. As a result of tastes and preferences of the consumers and the uniqueness of the manufacturer different brand name are made while at the same time the chocolate is made into different desired shapes. The difference in packaging is aimed at improving the presentation of the product out in the market.
Figure 1.1 below shows a diagrammatic representation of the process.
The diagram above is a simple representation of the process involved in chocolate manufacturing.
In the interview with the manufacturer to determine the reason for continued sales of life-threatening products, it emerged that recklessness is a problem. Most of the industries take the advantage of their popularity in carrying on with their illegal business. This is also promoted by the recklessness of the government legislations where they take little effort in ensuring quality products in the market. Therefore, as a result, manufacturers do not bother a lot of quality since the government is already not keen. The evidence is still on when (Eenfeldt 1) research reveals that several people still opt for the harmful products despite the indications provided in the manufacturers’ information. Ignorance has replaced the caution with most of the consumers. Eenfeldt goes ahead and offers an example of milk sold in the supermarket in the United States, despite it having issues of high levels of fat.
Therefore, this is a clear indication that the health of some individuals is not an issue. That is why the chocolate as mentioned earlier under investigation can still sell despite the health standards tied to it. It has been criticized for containing bad fats harmful for human health. (Harvad T.H Chan1), explains about bad fat. He reveals that bad fats results from the process of hydrogenation; the process involved in turning healthy oils into solid fats. It is therefore not the problem with taking fat, but the process itself, which compromises the quality of the fat. It’s then arguable that oils may be used rather than hydrogenation. The presence of bad fats in the chocolate might have too resulted from solidification process.
In trying to learn more about other health products and their making process, NuGo industry still offered the solution. The industry manufactures a range of the goods that are healthy in their manufacturing process. For the company to maintain the high standard of quality chocolate, they use organic ingredients important in achieving this. Some of the constituents used includes: soya beans, whole grain, antioxidants, vitamins and other organic proteins. Therefore NuGo Company has achieved in the production of safe chocolate in the market. According to their explanation, all of their chocolate are purely made of organic products such as those mentioned above. They engage in careful selection of their ingredients which have been grown organically. By being grown organically means that, the constituents are 95% free from contamination through the common chemicals used for improving productivity. For example, in the barley used for the making chocolate wafers is grown organically. This is to why their products are referred to as organic is that their ingredients are raised free from chemical contamination. The mixture of various elements is then coated with chocolate for improved flavor. As a result, their products remain competitive in the field of organic products.
The company also ensures that they maintain a team liable for the labeling and stamping of their products. A team of specialists is employed to facilitate this and ensuring that the products have gone through testing before getting into the market. Afterwards, the quality mark is added and also a legal stamp for the same.
The problem with several products is that, unscrupulous manufacturers are not concerned about the human health. They have encouraged flooding of markets with low quality products. However, the blame is not on the side of the producers alone. The government too has failed at emphasizing on the health of their citizens. Therefore, they carry the burden of taking care of treating the sick. So as to avoid this, emphasis should be made to include manufacturer’s information and made as clear as possible for the welfare of the potential buyers. Therefore, it will be upon the efforts of the consumers reading through the instructions and making decisions for them. Retailer in the shops and supermarket should also input effort in ensuring the items in their shelves are of high quality. They should therefore employ a team of members who will be checking their products and conducting further tests. The common methods of displaying product information should be revised. Strict measures should be put in place to ensure that labeling and stamping are followed strictly.
Figure 1.3 below indicates the common ways used in displaying product information.
Below is figure 1.3 showing the common way of displaying this information.
As this is ensured, therefore, it will be buyer’s responsibility of deciding on what to buy since awareness will be provided for all the customers’ items. In the case of health complication, they will have no one to blame but their ignorance. This promotes caution among all the potential consumers as they will have all the necessary information. It will also be easy for the consumers to be aware of the appropriate products in the market. One can also learn about those items that are safe for the human health. As expressed by (Langtree 1) is that most buyers have a curiosity of knowing what they are consuming, and therefore, it will not be denied of them.
Training of the manufacturers should be encouraged as this will equip them with skills on what is expected for the market. The production laws keep on changing and therefore, the manufacturers should change along with them. Therefore emphasizing on constant inquiry in the relevant field to know about the changes that have taken place will be very important for the whole company and also to the products they set out for the market.
THE FINDINGS OF THE TEAMS’ REPORT
Based on the research it was found that the use of non-GMOs and organic products may be achieved through the efforts of the government and individuals. It is a challenge that affects people at all levels and therefore, emphasis should be placed onto it. The government is expected to play a significant role as they are liable for activities running in their boundaries. There should be procedures in food labeling and stamping. Items for the market should have a well-described product name; the ingredients should be indicated if more than two. Also, the right quantity is important as well as the individual composition of the products. Labels should clearly be indicated differentiating whether the product is organic or either a Non-GMO. Country of production should be clearly stated and necessary addresses provided in case of a need for follow up. Following of all the necessary procedures will ensure that low standard products are not within the market line. However, effort is required on all individuals involved; that is consumers, quality assurance team and the manufacturers.
In conclusion, everyone has something to contribute to ensuring that the planet is saved from the menace of genetically modified products and also minimized the usage of chemicals. Protection of nature is the first milestone in ensuring that life is promoted for all beings. Good habits and attitudes towards life will also motivate people to be mindful of their welfare
Works Cited
Advameg. How products are made. 2016. Web. 08 April 2016. <http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Chocolate.html>.
Eenfeldt, Andreas. DietDoctor. 11 July 2011. Web. 08 April 2016. <http://www.dietdoctor.com/why-americans-are-obese-chocolate-milk>.
George Mateljan Foundation. The World Healthiest's Foods. 4 April 2016. Web. 2016 April 2016. <http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=24>.
Havard T.H Chan. Havard School of Public Health. n.d. Web. 08 April 2016. <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/>.
Langtree, Ian. Disabled World Towards tomorrow. 22 08 2015. Web. 08 April 2016. <http://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/gm-foods.php>.
NuGo Nutrition. "NuGo." 2016. Web. 08 April 2016. <https://www.nugonutrition.com/>.
