Do You Know What You're Putting On And In Your Body? | Health Answers

What Packaging and Labels Can Tell You

Whether you're counting calories, have a food allergy, or are a vegan, the nutrition facts label – that standard list of how many calories, carbs, sodium and other nutrients are in what you eat and drink – is one of your best resources for staying healthy and monitoring what you put in your body.

While reading the nutrition facts label is a good starting point to learn if an item is healthy or not, it doesn't tell you the full story of what's actually in the food. The same goes for lotions, makeup, and other products you put on your body.

But as we learn more about the adverse health effects of certain chemicals and environmental toxins, knowing the details of what goes on and in your body has become increasingly important.

Here's how to be a savvier label reader, and tips for people with special health concerns.

What to Look for on Food and Beverage Packaging

Expiration Date

Many food items have a calendar date (month, day, and year) stamped on the packaging, usually accompanied by one of the following phrases: "Sell By," "Best If Used By," and "Use By." What do these phrases mean?

Sell By: This date refers to how long retailers can display an item for sale before they need to remove it from their shelves. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends buying items before the sell by date; they also stress that some foods are safe to eat after the sell by date when stored properly.

Best If Used By: This date is more of a quality and freshness issue rather than a safety one. Set by the manufacturer, this date signals the last day the product is guaranteed to be at its peak quality and freshest flavor. Eating certain products passed their "Best If Used By" date won't necessarily make you sick. For example, potato chips eaten a few days after the manufacturer's "Best If Used By" date may taste stale, but they won't cause illness.

Use By: This date means that eating something passed the stamped date may pose a health risk.

Get more information from the USDA on when food is safe to eat and when it's time to toss it out.

Ingredients List

Foods are listed on the ingredients list in descending order of prevalence, meaning the higher a particular ingredient is on the list, the more of that ingredient a food product contains. The ingredients list is also an important tool for food allergy sufferers. Reading the list alerts them to the ingredients they may be allergic to such as nuts, eggs, or gluten.

What Does "Natural" Mean on Food Labels?

Did you know that many foods labeled "natural" may not be as natural as you think? The FDA and the USDA don't have a standard definition of what "natural" means and therefore don't regulate foods marked as natural as they do other claims such as fat-free, sugar-free, or organic. This means that manufacturers can claim their product is natural, even if only a small percentage is made from natural ingredients. (Learn more about what different food labels and claims mean.)

What to Look for on Cosmetics, Lotions and Other Personal Care Products

Expiration Date

Cosmetic manufacturers are currently not required by law to have an expiration date marked on their products. If a manufacturer does include an expiration date, it's only a general guideline; storing a product improperly — such as in direct heat — can make the product go bad sooner. Conversely, storing a product under ideal conditions (tightly sealed in a cool, dark place) extends its use even after the expiration date. Use your eyes, nose, and judgment to determine whether or not a product looks, smells, or performs as it should.

As a general rule, the FDA recommends products used near the eye area (such as mascara) to be replaced every two to four months after purchasing to prevent dangerous eye infections.

What to Know About Medication Labels

Expiration Date

The FDA stresses that following the expiration date on medications is an important way to ensure that the medication is safe to use and effective. Once a medication expires, the chemical composition can change, making it weaker and no longer effective in providing the necessary treatment.

In addition to the expiration date, follow storage instructions carefully. Some medications need to be refrigerated or kept away from heat and humidity. And remember: if you have questions or are uncertain about how to take a medication, how to store it, or when to dispose of it, contact your healthcare provider or your pharmacist.

Dosage

Always take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor, including at the right time of day and for the full length of treatment. Follow the dosage instructions on over-the-counter medicines (OTC) as you would prescription medication. Misuse of medications is a common cause of emergency department visits. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2011, there were 41,340 drug overdose-related deaths. Of these, 55% (22, 810) related to pharmaceutical drugs, as opposed to illicit drugs. Moreover, the danger is not limited to adults: Among children under age 6, medications account for about 40 percent of all reported exposures at poison control centers.

Drug Facts Label

Similar to the nutrition facts label on food, the drug facts label on OTC medications provides consumers with important information to help them make safe decisions about what they put into their bodies. The FDA has required that all OTC drugs have detailed usage and warning labels clearly marked on the packaging. The new OTC labels will have the following information:

Active Ingredient
Inactive Ingredients
Uses
Directions
Purpose
Warnings
Other Important Information (such as proper storage)

Active Ingredients

Active ingredients are usually listed first on drug facts labels and refer to the main substances responsible for treating a particular condition. Reading the active ingredients on all OTC medicines you take is important to avoid double-dosing – taking more than one product with the same active ingredient at the same time. For instance, if you take acetaminophen to reduce a fever and then take a cold and flu medication for nasal congestion that also lists acetaminophen as an active ingredient, you are double-dosing.

Special Health Concerns

People with special health concerns need to pay particular attention to labels and packaging. Talk to your doctor or health care provider for more details specific to your condition. Here's what to look for and why if you:

Have sensitive skin

Look for: alcohol, witch hazel, peppermint, fragrance, menthol, eucalyptus oil, lactic acid, and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs).
Why: These ingredients can irritate sensitive skin or exacerbate certain skin conditions such as rosacea.

Are on a gluten-free diet:

Look for: wheat, barley, rye, semolina, bulgur, durum flour, graham flour, kamut, and spelt. Gluten is also found in unexpected places such as soy sauce, beer, soups, and candies. Read all ingredient labels or look for the "gluten-free" label on the packaging.
Why: For those with a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, eating gluten can cause troublesome symptoms.
Note: As of August 5, 2014, all foods labeled "gluten free" or something similar (like "no gluten" or "free of gluten") are held to the same standard. By law, any food carrying such a label must keep the gluten level of the food to no more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of the protein – a tiny amount that is consistent with similar regulations across the world, and considered safe for people who have celiac disease or an intolerance to gluten.

Are vegan:

Look for: casein, whey (comes from milk), gelatin, tallow, suet (comes from meat), and Natural Red 4 (also known as carmine, cochineal, or cochineal extract) – a food coloring taken from female beetles.
Why: Even foods that appear to be 100 percent vegan may have hidden animal derived products. Visit The Vegetarian Resource Group website for more information.

Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Look for: fish with a high level of mercury (tilefish, sword fish, king mackerel, and shark); unpasteurized cheeses, milk, or juices; sushi or raw shellfish. In general, while pregnant or nursing, talk to your healthcare provider about any food- or medicine-related concerns, or before taking any supplements. Pregnancy and nursing are especially vulnerable times, when what you eat affects not just you, but your developing (or nursing) baby as well.²
Why: Certain foods may contain harmful parasites or bacteria, such as listeria and E. coli. Eating fish that's high in mercury has been shown to affect the fetus's nervous system development. Be aware that some topical ingredients – retinoids and hydroquinone – may pass through the skin to the fetus or into breast milk.

Have a food allergy:

Look for: your food allergen listed in the ingredients list of all foods you plan on eating.
Why: Even eating trace amounts of the allergen can be deadly if you have a severe allergy. Be aware that some foods might unexpectedly contain the allergen. Milk protein, for example, can be found in canned tuna and medications. Check your cosmetics too, especially if you have a tree nut, soy, or peanut allergy. Soy and tree nut oils are often used in cosmetics, lotions, and shampoos and can be dangerous for those suffering from severe allergies when applied topically.