Lofthouse's Fisherman's Friend Sugar Free mandarin & Ginger Lozenges

I have been suffering from a sore throat for a few days. And, it's getting worst. This morning, while I was at the grocery store nearby my house looking cookies, I saw the LoftHouse's Frisherman's Friend products displayed at the shelf with a variety of flavors. I chose the one with Sugar Free mandarin & Ginger Lozenges:

This was what I saw at the back of the package:

Its function: 

"Sugar Free Mandarin and Ginger Lozenges refreshes breath, helps soothe the throat and provides symtomatic relief of cough and nasal congestion due to colds"

The active ingredient for it: Menthol. Let's examine the role of Menthol in the food. Menthol, which has its uses mostly related to its stimulation of skin's cold receptors, produces a cooling effect while inhaled or applied to the skin (sensation). Because of it, it has been used in products meant to relieve skin irritation, sore throat, or nasal congestion. It might be used to treat sunburn, fever, or muscle aches. It may be prescribed for nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, headache, cold, or sore throat. Common products containing menthol are toothpaste, cough drops, lip balm, mouthwash, gum, and cigarettes.

Reminder:

It also contains Sorbitol. The label added that excessive consumption may induce a laxative effect! I have 6 lozenges/tablets of it yesterday. And, it cost me a paintball game as I lost my concentration due to stomach pain... 

Ingredient list

I have not tried OREO cookies with peanut butter and chocolate creme. So, I bought myself a pack of OREO cookies. I will share with you how to read the ingredient list based on the OREO cookies that I bought. Although I used OREO as my example, the same principle applied to all other processed food.




Below is the ingredient list published on the back of the OREO:

Since it is the manufacturer's trade secret, we will not be given the exact amount of each ingredient on the list. However, we can have a general picture of the ingredient make-up of the OREO.


1. The ingredients are listed based on the amount of each of them used: from the most to the least.
The  a piece OREO cookies contains mostly wheat flour (use the most), followed by sugar; then, vegetable oil, peanut butter, cocoa powder, corn starch, high fructose syrup, whey powder, salt, leavening, emulsifier, and lastly vanilla flavor (use the least). Again, the exact percentage of each ingredient or the exact formula remains unknown because it is the KRAFT's super guarded secret (the company will go out of business if the formula is made known to public)


2. The manufacturer also lists the allergen information to alert some of the consumers who are allergic to those regarding the ingredient make-up of the product. For OREO cookies, it contains wheat, milk, peanut and soy.


Let explore what each of the allergens can do the consumers who are allergic to it:


a. Wheat
People with wheat allergies can respond with a variety of possible signs and symptoms, including breathing difficulties, nausea, hives, bloated stomach and an inability to focus. With some people the consumption of wheat and wheat products may result in anaphylaxis - a life-threatening allergic response. 


b. Milk
A milk allergy usually occurs minutes to hours after consuming milk. Signs and symptoms of milk allergy range from mild to severe and can include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Rarely, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis — a severe, life-threatening reaction


c. Peanut

If you have a mild reaction, you may get a stomachache, a runny nose, an itchy skin rash, hives, or tingling in your lips or tongue. If your reaction is worse, you may develop additional symptoms such as a tight throat, hoarse voice, wheezing, coughing, feeling sick to your stomach, vomiting, belly pain, and diarrhea. Your symptoms may start from within a few minutes to a few hours after eating peanuts or peanut products.People who are allergic to peanuts may have a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.

d. Soy

Symptoms of soy allergy are many and may include:

• Acne and other skin conditions, like eczema

• Swelling

• Nasal congestion

• Anaphylaxis

• Bronchospasm (Asthma-like symptoms)

• Canker sores or fever blisters

• Colitis and other gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea

• Conjunctivitis, or pink eye

• Shortness of breath

• Fever, fatigue, weakness, and nausea

• Low blood pressure

• Itching

• Hay fever
• Hives

That's all for the week. And happy making smart food choice !!