Who's Responsible for Your Health?

Recently, you may have come across an article on social media that contained the actual ingredients inside one of our favorite fall indulgences… the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  They’re also known by the regulars who drink them as a “PSL.”  Surprisingly, it came as a shock to some that the majority of the ingredients in this beverage are not exactly healthy.  This seemed to create a backlash against the company selling them (we all know who I’m talking about.)  It made me stop and think, are we relying too heavily on these companies to divulge all of the information about their food products? 

Whose job is it to make sure that we are eating healthy?  Can you trust a big business to steer you in the right direction?  And if they choose not to list every single ingredient in their drink, can we really blame them? 

By now, unless you live under a rock, you should be aware that lattes, Coolattas, and similar flavored beverages contain sugar.  Did you really think that the whip cream on top was made of kale and air?  As a consumer, we have to hold ourselves accountable for certain things.  We have to be active in our research and know about what we purchase before deciding to do so.  That means being smart enough to understand that these beverages are not good for us, whether the ingredients are listed or not. 

If you’re under the impression that your latte contains steamed milk, espresso, and “magical flavors,” then shame on YOU, not the place selling the item.  You have become the consumer they love; the non-informed kind. 

Now, some may argue that we have the right to know what we are eating.  My counter argument is that we also have the right to educate ourselves and choose what we are eating.  With the resources available nowadays, with the click of a button, we literally have information at our fingertips. 

Obviously, those ingredients do not belong in foods that we consume.  However, they aren’t the first and will not be the last.  How about that famous sandwich chain’s chemical bread?  Or, what about the pink slime meat used in a popular fast food giant?  Last time I checked, all three companies had lines going out the door during lunch time. 

I guess at the end of the day, it wasn’t a surprise to me when the ingredients of the beloved “PSL” turned out to be less than healthy.  Maybe, instead of blaming the company though, we should realize that we hold the power and have a choice of what to eat.  I’m not saying that businesses shouldn’t release this information; it’s more along the lines of... Can we blame them for not doing so? 

On a side note – if anybody decides to find the ingredient list on a dirty chai latte… please do me a favor and keep it to yourself!    

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