Have you tried Kroger’s All Natural and Organic Simple Truth Brands yet? I have been trying to eat more organic and natural foods for a few years now and must say that the Simple Truth brand has really made it easier on the pocketbook without sacrificing quality.
If you are interested in learning more about Simple Truth, my buddy Jordan over at Growing Up Natural explains everything:
Simple Truth is a Kroger exclusive store brand that claims to be their healthiest line of products yet. Under the umbrella of Simple Truth you’ll find items like fresh produce, meat, snacks, dairy, beverages and so much more! But the question still remains. Is it all good for you? The packaging claims to be free of 101 artificial preservatives and ingredients (that “their customers” told them they didn’t want in their foods) but here are some further details you might like to know…
:: Simple Truth NATURAL
According to Simple Truth, these natural products meet or exceed federal standards for natural food because they:
- Are minimally processed
- Contain no artificial ingredients
- Are fed a 100% vegetarian diet
- Contain no antibiotics, ever
- Contain no added hormones*
Federal regulations do not permit the use of hormones in chicken.
But what does natural mean?
The term “natural” applies broadly to foods that are minimally processed and free of:
- synthetic preservatives
- hydrogenated oils
- stabilizers
- emulsifiers
- artificial sweeteners
- most artificial colors
- artificial flavors
- artificial additives
It’s important to note that the term “natural” is NOT regulated (except for meat and poultry). However, the Kroger policy has “remained the same as the FDA’s policy on natural foods since 1993.”
So what are the benefits to the natural line of products?
Simple Truth states that they do not use any type of added growth hormones or antibiotics. Additionally, they do not feed their livestock any animal by-products. Instead, the animals are fed a 100% vegetarian diet which “lends to the extraordinary flavor of our natural pork, beef and eggs.” Basically they’re saying these products just consistently taste better than non-natural equivalents.
But because the non-livestock products (ex. chips, salsa, etc.) are not monitored, you are simply given the free of 101 artificial preservatives and ingredients list. Nothing is said about genetically modified organisms (GMO) or how the ingredients are sourced.
While the natural line is still significantly better than some of the other options out there, be sure to always check labels yourself and stick to your gut about which items you purchase! Do not trust what product packaging is advertising alone because looks can be extremely deceiving (see here for a great list of the top 10 highly processed foods to avoid and here for an A to Z list of some seriously evil ingredients).
:: Simple Truth ORGANIC
Certified organic products are different from “natural” ones because they ARE monitored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
What does certified organic mean?
- These products must be produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, genetic engineering, sewage sludge or irradiation.
- Organic foods are free from artificial preservatives.
- National organic standards require that organic growers and handlers be certified by third-party agencies, state or private, or other organizations that are accredited by the USDA.
Different foods have to meet different standards in order to be certified as organic. For example, irradiation, sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, prohibited pesticides and genetically modified organisms may not be used in organic crops. In order for livestock to be certified organic, producers must meet animal health and welfare standards, may not use antibiotics or growth hormones, must use 100% organic feed, and must provide animals with access to the outdoors. Lastly, in order for multi-ingredient foods to be labeled with the organic seal they must contain 95% organic content (see more about labeling organics here).
So what are the benefits to the organic line of products?
Certified organic products have strict guidelines in place in order to provide consumers with a clear purchasing choice. The term natural can be loosely applied to just about anything however, organic cannot. When buying Simple Truth items with the organic seal, you know you are consuming products that hold true to your values.
Simple Truth Organic products are often priced lower than name-brand similar items which is a nice perk for the budget minded. Always make sure to price compare while shopping! Between sales and coupons, it pays to be aware of your store brand vs. mainstream options.
This article was written as a guest post by Jordan Candido, a financial expert on all things organic, natural and allergen friendly. To learn more about how to beat the myth that living healthier is too expensive, visit GrowingUpNatural.com.
Sources: Simple Truth, 100 Days of Real Food, Natural News, The National Organic Program
Is there available Simple Truth ORGANIC Turkey Breast bone in for roasting in oven?
On Sunday, we had the Simple Truth 16 oz. tail-off peeled & deveined raw shrimp. We both thought they tasted what we imagined Styrofoam packing peanuts taste like. It was most disappointing.
As a meat consumer, I am only interested in products that are raised humanely and pasture-fed; for example, 100% grass fed beef. Some companies which market pasture grass-fed beef still use typical feedlot finishing procedures, which means transferring cattle to feedlots for the last 6 weeks of their lives, and feeding them primarily corn and potatoes for extra layers of fat and marbling, and to increase their weight. Among other things, this throws the Omega levels out of balance, and results in a less healthy product. I’d like sourcing information on where Kroger obtains Simple Truth 100% Grass Fed Beef.
I purchased two containers of Simple Truth organic plain low fat yogurt and was very disappointed. The yogurt was loose, with a rather slimy texture. I noticed that some of the ingredients are corn starch, locust bean gum and pectin. THAT should teach me to NEVER shop when I’m in too much of a hurry to READ THE INGREDIENTS list. I use a lot of Kroger products, but, this is NOT one I could recommend.
The faeces can be easily removed without damaging the lawn. ” Either way, once you have one of these lawns, you will no longer have to spend a beautiful sunny day mowing the lawn. You can have a nice looking lawn year round instead of just in the spring and summer time.
Our biggest concern is GMO. If it has corn, we stick with organic. If it doensn’t have corn, we will go with “natural.” Meats etc we stick with the organic as much as possible, mainly with chicken. The grains they eat (corn) can be “natural” but if it’s not organic, we don’t know if that corn was or was not GMO.
I started switching to organic foods a year ago. I have been buying Simple Truth products for about 8 months now and I have found that the quality is very good, even for the just “Natural” products. I am concerned that “natural” doesn’t mean GMO free, but it makes me feel good that I recognize all the ingredients on the label and that they put the “free of 101 artificial preservatives and ingredients”. I eat their eggs, cereal, almond milk, unsalted butter, ketchup, mustard, salsa, chips, ground turkey, turkey lunchmeat, beef, chicken, pasta, waffles, fries, pizza and produce! There are some products that I stick with name brand organic foods such as pasta sauce and peanut butter. The Simple Truth Brand of those two weren’t very good. The rest is great though! I try more and more each time I go to the store haha.
Their mild salsa is the best I’ve ever had!!!! It was so good I asked the Kroger closest to me to carry it as I had picked it up at a Kroger further away from me. My Kroger carries it now and I’m soooooo happy!
“a 100% vegetarian diet”
The animals may still be grain fed instead of grass fed or grass fed and grain finished unless it specifically states otherwise.
Exactly the brand may have some perks, but it is deceptive for sure.