Is Vanilla supposed to be this YELLOW ?
Written: Aug 30 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Pudding Consistency, cheap
Cons: DYES, FD&C YELLOW, Weird taste, smell, color . . .
The Bottom Line: I do not recommend fooling yourself into thinking this is good. IT IS NOT, read why
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| sojournseeker's Full Review: Jell-o Instant Pudding Vanilla Flavor 5.1oz Box Je... |
**NOTE: This review is on one single 3.4 ounce (96 grams) of Vanilla Artificial Flavored Instant Pudding & Pie Filling**
Jello-O had always been a favorite in the house when we were kids. It was a favorite because it was fast, delicious, and served many a desserts purpose for yumminess; yet moms were not aware that red dye #4 or red dye #40 for the Cherry, Strawberry Banana or Strawberry flavors, was hazardous to our health. At least not twenty years ago . . .
Well times have changed, people are getting smarter by reading the labels on their foodstuffs, cosmetics, even animal foods and comparing what they read on the label to what information the computer has to offer. This new practice amongst health-conscious consumers has hopefully opened the world of manufacturing to greater scrutinization.
Jell-o Instant Pudding Vanilla Flavor 3.4 oz (96 grams) Box Jello states right on the front lower right corner that it is Artificial Flavor. But because it is high in Calcium, which by itself is not, it is only so AFTER the milk is poured and whisked into the dry mix, does the incentive to buy become sweeter.
TASTE: Let us get down to the ’sweetness’ of this product. I mean after all this in ONE of the main reasons consumers even purchase any products when foodstuffs are to be considered. But I just don’t want good flavor, I want real healthy-for-me and my family true flavor. Jell-o Instant Pudding Vanilla Flavor 3.4 oz (96 grams) Box Jello fails miserably at presenting true vanilla flavor when mixed according to the directions. (see directions below)
COLOR: Just too much yellow for me. Vanilla is supposed to be naturally lighter, beige to crème-colored but not deep and bright yellow.
FIRMNESS: Simply okay when mixed accordingly but if over-beaten, can become increasingly dense, heavy and too thick to swallow without some milk. Yes it makes a great custard for those that do not care what they eat or really how ‘weird’ it tastes. It goes far and if you’re a local baker who wants to make your fresh baked goods seem more appealing, of course you would continue to use it. But as me as a consumer reviewer, offering the facts, can you imagine how much left over inventory of this not-so-good for you product is going to look in your stores because readers won‘t be buying this ?
SMELL: Strange fruity scent that has a hint of vanilla but certainly not from the fresh ground bean. I also smell a whiff of kerosene, or at least some strong smelling petro whiff on the first sniff when opening the powder packet BEFORE adding milk.
My FINAL THOUGHT: Don’t tempt your children or fool yourself into believing this product has any nutritional value and realize it is more harm then good when ingested, over the course of years mind you. Even though it is cheap, fast and available in a variety of flavors, the ingredients are not what you would expect, nor deserve so don’t spend your few cents on a box or so . . .
FROM THE BOX flaps sides and bottom are these specials and instruction for Recipes made with.
5 MINUTE PUDDING DIRECTIONS:
1) BEAT pudding mix into 2 cups of cold milk in a ceramic or metal bowl with a whire whisk for about two minutes.
2) POUR at once into individual ceramic, glass or plastic serving dishes. Pudding will be soft -set and ready to eat within 5 minutes, up to seven for firmer pudding. As prepared, package makes 4 ½ cup servings or 2 one cup servings.
TRADITIONAL PUDDING PIE DIRECTIONS:
1) PREPARE as directed for pudding, reducing milk to 1 and ¾ cups (instead of 2) *For fuller, creamier, heavier pie, use 2 packages and 2 ¾ cups milk
2) POUR at once into 9-inch HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crust. Refrigerate at least one hour (3 hours for a fuller pie) or until set firmness is desired by you. Prepared as directed above, this pie serves 8
DIRECTIONS for JELL-O PUDDING MIX-INS:
1) PREPARE JELL-O Pudding as directed on the package.
2) TRY these great ideas to mix in your pudding:
*1 cup of strawberries or bananas
*1 cup JET PUFFED miniature marshmallows
*1 cup PLANTERS Peanuts
Or 1 cup any combination of the above
This package has the “Best When Used By-- 30 November 2010” Now that’s a long shelf life and why should you be concerned; well this does mean that the dried product has preservatives value to it, and that’s not good value. It is unfortunate that the list of ingredients fails to give consumers the ‘vanilla bean’ in this product so that flavor we seek is not actually vanilla. Scary huh ? This leads me to further not recommend this product because of what is in it to last so long.
INGREDIENTS:
Sugar-- the worst chlorine bleached refined now white processed stuff you should avoid Modified Food Starch-- it is a starch that has been treated to withstand things like excessive heat, acid, time cooling and freezing properties are enhanced. The main purpose of adding it to the mix is for thickening, it is what makes the milk and powder congeal to form a pudding consistency. By the time the 2 cups of cold milk was whisked properly into the powder, I saw weirdness form.
Salt, Disodium Phosphate and Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate both of the latter ingredients are also used for thickening, as if this almost-cement if you over beat, powder and milk concoction needs anymore thickening. What it needs is some true vanilla and still six ingredients down and no mention of the delicious ingredient real vanilla pudding should have in it.
Anyway on to the remainder of the yuck ingredients (are you getting my drift here people that this stuff may fancy your little ones’ taste buds but it is truly AWFUL and I do not recommend it to anyone. This finely sifted powder product contains less than 2% of any natural or Artificial Flavor which is refreshing, at least there is a 98 % chance there could be something good for you in here . . .
Mono and triglycerides of the sugar category are added to prevent foaming. Now I don’t know about you but if you are whisking air into a powdered substance and a liquid, you are bound to get a ‘foaming reaction’, are you not ? Who prepared this stuff at the manufacturing plant anyway ?
Now the best part of the review so far in my humble Epinion-- I mention the color is an extraordinarily creamy deep yellow color. Unlike if using the true vanilla bean for flavoring, one might be drawn to the attention to a subtle crème color or foamy heavenly pale yellow more beige as the husks of vanilla bean are light brown to dark chocolate brown.
But as you know realize, there is no mention of ‘vanilla bean’ or essential oil of, so what makes this vanilla and why is it so yellow . . . ? Well it is HIGHLY due to these ingredients toward the bottom of their list meaning its not as concentrated but it is in here. Welcome to Yellow #5 which is commonly known as Tartrazine. It appears to cause the most allergic and intolerance reactions of all the azo dyes, particularly among asthmatics and those with an aspirin intolerance.
I also discovered that in part, this dye is linked to several mild-to-moderate dissociative disorders including increased hyperactivity or decreased intelligence quotient (IQ). I am not sure how this stuff by itself really tastes but when I spoon a helping of this prepared pudding into my mouth, after not having products that contain this stuff for months, I noticed a weird chemical sweetness.
If your still not convinced, read on about Yellow #6 which is Sunset Yellow FCF (also known as Orange Yellow S, or FD&C Yellow 6 there is immediate regard for inducing an allergic reaction upon ingesting this particular food and cosmetic dye. This particular dye is a sulfurated version of Sudan 1 which has proven carcinogenic properties. I am quoting this from Wikipedia, “Sudan 1 or FD&C YELLOW is frequently present as an impurity.
Sunset Yellow itself may be responsible for causing an allergic reaction in people who have low aspirin or any aspirin intolerance. Ingestion of this chemical dye on frequent basis can cause gastric upset, diarrhea, vomiting, urinary a rash that has pustules and quite possibly a condition called angioedema a swelling of the skin. Final ingredient is BHA which as a preservative and chemically known as Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) serves as an antioxidant.
NUTRITION FACTS:
Serving Size= ¼ package (roughly 25 grams of the total 96 grams)
Servings per container= 4 ½ cup or 2 full cup
Calories: powder= 90 ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 150
Calories Fat: powder= 0 ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 20
Total Fat: powder= 0 grams, 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 4%
Saturated Fat: powder= 0 grams, 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 8%
Trans Fat: powder= 0 grams, 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 0%
Cholesterol (does not specify LDL or HDL): powder= 0 milligrams ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 3% *NOTE: Cholesterol travels through the blood in different types of packages, called lipoproteins.Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) deliver cholesterol to the body. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. This explains why too much LDL cholesterol is bad for the body, and why a high level of HDL is good*
Sodium: powder= 350 milligrams= 15% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 17%
Total Carbohydrate: powder= 23 grams = 8% ½ cup pepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 10%
Dietary Fiber: powder= 0 grams= 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 0%
Sugars: powder= 19 grams= ? % 0% with milk
Protein: podwer= 0 grams= ? % 0% with milk
Vitamin A: powder= 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 4%
Vitamin C: powder= 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 0%
Calcium: powder= 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 15%
Iron: powder= 0% ½ cup prepared with 2% reduced fat milk= 0%
Product is manufactured by Kraft Foods North America, Division of Kraft Foods Global, Inc. Tarrytown, NY 10591 USA jell-o.com 1-800-431-1001
The box is cardboard and is biodegradeable therefore please recycle
Thank you for reading,
Enjoy !
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID: sojournseeker
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Member: Erica Hidvegi
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Earth
Reviews written: 135
Trusted by: 26 members
About Me: Mission: Seeking lit agent. Paperback available. Be aware every foodstuff/cosmetic should have ingredients on it
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