This post is about what I found on the Kroger website when I looked up the dietary information about the food I was cooking. It made me realize how companies have to do everything to protect themselves from a frivolous lawsuit happy society. I am not saying all lawsuits against large corporations are frivolous, but often people don't take accountability for their own actions and try to blame others when things go wrong.
I really wanted to share the way these warnings were listed, hence the reason I started typing this post. Of course I have to go into detail beginning with why I even chose these foods, and not only how I am preparing them, but also how I plan to divide them into individual meals! It is just the way my brain works—for me background information is important for context and a key feature in most stories I tell. In this post, I start from the beginning—grocery day! After describing the meal and preparation, I share the warnings!
This week while creating my grocery order, I wanted to find some new meal options. I have been eating the same foods for months, usually the same meal on repeat several days. A decade or more ago, I made some slow cook pork chops with peaches and they were really delicious! I set off in search of the recipe while shopping for ingredients, and instead I found a recipe that uses pork tenderloin, peach preserves, and chicken broth.
I bought Kroger® Bacon Brown Sugar Boneless Pork Tenderloin. It was on sale and thought the additional ingredients would add a touch of sweet and savory I wouldn't otherwise add because of additional cost. The recipe couldn't be any easier—dump all the ingredients in the crockpot and cook on low for six to seven hours! Already awake at four in the morning, I calculated it would be ready by lunchtime if I started it cooking!
In addition to the tenderloin, I decided to pair it with coleslaw. I already had the dressing, and I always run the packaged slaw through a food processor first to make it easier to enjoy. I chose to put the slaw evenly into six of my eight ounce glass jars. After the tenderloin finishes cooking, I plan to divide it and the peach sauce into six single compartment meal containers. It is important to separate out the food into individual servings in order to spread my eating out throughout the day without overindulging.
I finished running the slaw through the processor and had it all mixed up when I decided to look on the bag to see what constituted a serving. The nutrition information on the bag indicated it held five servings—close enough for me! Once I diced it up more finely, and mixed it with dressing, it divided well into the six servings I had anticipated. I wanted to buy the three color blend of green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot, but I did not see it. Instead, I settled for only green cabbage and carrot—good, but with less of a kick.
I already wrapped up and discarded the tenderloin package, but I remembered that Kroger has pictures of the items with the dietary information displayed. I quickly found out that four ounces is a serving size, and dividing it out into six individual containers would work well for me. If I was calorie counting, the slightly larger six ounce serving I planned would only be about 450 calories including the peach preserves and coleslaw.
What caught my eye on the website was shocking! The ingredients, allergen information, and a disclaimer were listed. If you are allergic to something, this information is not very helpful because it seems every allergen is listed whether it is in the product or not! The disclaimer has to be because of lawsuits and to avoid liability. I just really found it interesting and wanted to share! I understand! I have a lot of disclaimers on this website, and feel like I need disclaimers when selling or even volunteering! Many people look for issues and it is my experience issues can be created from nothing given the right spin.
The disclaimer is the same for all three products, so I will list it only one time followed by the individual products including the ingredients and allergen information for each.
Disclaimer: Actual product packaging and materials may contain additional and/or different ingredient, nutritional, or proper usage information than the information displayed on our website. You are responsible for reading labels, warnings, and directions prior to using or consuming a product. If you have food sensitivities or allergies, you should always read the actual product labels to confirm the safety of the product for your situation. Content on this website is for general reference purposes only and is not intended to substitute for advice by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health care professional. You should not use the information presented on this website for self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem. All products may not be available in all stores. See your local store for specific offerings. Kroger assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements regarding any product.
Kroger® Bacon Brown Sugar Boneless Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients: Pork Tenderloin, Water, Pork Flavoring (Salt, Pork Stock, Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Pork Fat, Natural Flavors, Spices), Sodium Phosphate, Coated with: Seasoning (Brown Sugar, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Spices, Maltodextrin, Less than 2% of Natural Smoke Flavor, Natural Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Grill Flavor [from Sunflower Oil], Soybean Oil), Light Brown Sugar, Vinegar, Natural Flavoring, Topped with: Bacon ([Cured with: Water, Salt, Sugar, Sodium Phosphates, Sodium Nitrite], May Contain: Smoke Flavor, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Erythorbate, Potassium Chloride, Dextrose).
Allergen Info: Not intentionally nor inherently included Crustaceans and their derivates, Sesame Seeds and their derivates, Wheat and Their Derivatives, Eggs and their derivates, Fish and their derivates, Soybean and its Derivatives, Milk and its derivates, Tree Nuts and Their Derivatives, Peanuts and their derivates.
Kroger® Coleslaw
Ingredients: Green Cabbage, Carrot.
Allergen Info: Free from Does Not Contain Declaration Obligatory Allergens.
Kroger® Peach Preserves
Ingredients: Peaches, Corn Syrup, HF Corn Syrup, Sugar, Citric Acid, Pectin.
Allergen Info: Contains Corn and its derivates.
Looking at the dietary information and disclaimers on the Kroger website made me think about how companies work to provide transparency while protecting themselves from potential liability. Sharing this process, from choosing ingredients to preparing meals, felt important because it shows how I approach meal planning and how I came to find these labels and disclaimers—which can affect us as consumers. I hope this post has been as interesting for you as it was for me. Whenever I look at ingredient lists, I recall my oldest brother, as early as 1974 when he was only 19 years old, super upset about processed foods and the chemicals listed on boxed items. Looking back, his concern feels ahead of its time, considering there were no personal computers to quickly share information, only a few TV channels, and limited public awareness about food additives and their potential effects. If you’ve seen any unusual or surprising disclaimers or warning labels or signs, feel free to share your thoughts or experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear them! I would also encourage you to share your thoughts and words on any number of topics. Look at the submission guidelines and let your voice be heard!
Isaiah 55:2
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare."
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