Lawry's Nutrition Facts and Ingredients
For years I have used Lawry’s Seasoned Salt to flavor my popcorn, collard greens and cabbage, but last week I threw it away after learning that it contains hydrogenated oils that ARE NOT listed on the label. You read that right. Even though the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food products to have nutritional and ingredient labels, all ingredients may not be listed. The only way I found out that Lawry’s Seasoned Salt has hydrogenated soybean and cotton seed oils was that the representative I contacted in the Consumer Affair Department at McCormick (the maker of Lawry’s) to find out if the salt had MSG masked under other names voluntarily told me about the oils. Here’s her email:
Dear Ms. Smith:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us again regarding our Lawry’s Seasoned Salt. This product does not contain yeast extract or autolyzed proteins, but it does container (sic) partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil. We hope this information is helpful to you.
If we can be of further assistance, please call us at 1-800-952-9797, Monday through Friday, 9:30AM to 5PM Eastern Time. If you wish to respond to this note by e-mail, please include your name and e-mail address.
We hope to have the continued pleasure of serving you.
After reading this note, I couldn’t understand how McCormick could get away with not listing trans fats, which hydrogenated oils are, on its label so I contacted the FDA. The first FDA representative I spoke to, who only identified herself as Anna, worked in the FDA national office in Silver Springs, MD, and said that if a packaged food has less than .5 grams of hydrogenated fat, the company doesn’t have to list that the product contains any trans fats. Not being familiar with the agency’s regulation for spices, Anna referred me to the regional FDA Consumer Complaint office in my hometown of Detroit.
I spoke with FDA representative Cecily Long who said that McCormick is probably not violating any FDA regulations. She said the partially hydrogenated oils would fall “probably under the catch all term ‘natural flavor.’” I challenged her, explaining that though cottonseed and soybean oils are natural they become altered from their natural state once they go through the process of hydrogenation.
Long: “They come from natural oils.”
Me: “So you’re saying that as long as an ingredient is derived from a natural source it can be considered natural no matter how it is modified?”
Long: “Yes.”
I paused audibly, galled by the deception and even further by the FDA’s response. “If you have a problem with a product you could choose not to buy it,” Long said. After telling her “I know that and have chosen not to use Lawry’s Seasoned Salt anymore, but I wouldn’t have known they had hydrogenated oils if the representative didn’t voluntarily tell me,” Long said: “If you’re ever in doubt about a product that’s what you should do; call the company. They know their product the best.”
So know this: Even with nutritional and ingredient labels you have to be responsible for knowing what’s in what you eat. From this experience and dozens that I have heard about, FDA regulations allow for companies to put ingredients in foods that are harmful to us and we not even know it. Historically, health advocates have told us to read the labels on everything you buy, but reading labels is not enough. Unfortunately, we have to do what Long advised and contact the company to get a full disclosure of what you are consuming. Though I believe labels are useless if they don’t tell us everything we need to know, ultimately the onus is on us to know what we are eating. It takes some work, but isn’t your health worth it?
WOW! Come Lord Jesus.
very good post. enjoyed. I know FDA will allow ‘natural’ products to still be claimed so even when it modified. but not to place an ingredient on a label regardless of how much is in it is UNFAIR.
Thanks iksgps. Glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for commenting.
Rhonda J. Smith
Author of Musings of a (Recovering) Strong Black Woman https://www.musingsofastrongblackwoman.com
Hello
I think that is it impossible to know everything about what you eat. It is just like there are so many causes to take up the banner for that you might never see your family, friends or work. So you pick your battles. I think the big three are knowing more about your fruits and vegetables, meats, and stop eating processed foods. If I ever get to the level of looking at seasoning (except excluding salt from my seasoning choices) I will probably be 90 years old. Not enough time in the day.
Marla,
I think it can be daunting to seek to know everything you eat but I believe as good stewards of our bodies, we should seek to find out what we can, particularly if we have an inclination about something being wrong. I started checking seasonings as a matter of my health when I went through a season of chronic yeast infections. My doctor kept giving me antibiotics that worked against my healing so I had to search elsewhere. When I investigated nutritional healing for my body I found out that MSG (autolyzed yeast, etc.) and white vinegar and other ingredients that required me to look at labels for seasoning were the culprits of my infections. Everyone needs to take up the banner God leads them to. Nutritional healing is one of mine. I’ve been at this for nearly 20 years and knew sharing what I found out for myself would be helpful for my readers who I believe need to be informed but may not have the time or energy to do the research.
i appreciate you sharing what you discover. For me I have to keep it simple. Too many demands on me. can’t take on anything else.
It appears that I’m a few years late but it goes to show show how a post from 2 plus years ago can still have a profound impact on someone’s life. I woke up, once again, not understand the cause of this instance of insomnia (this is typically the first thing that will happen to me when I’ve eaten something that either has wheat or soy). I couldn’t figure it out because, for the most part, I cook all my food from scratch. Anyway, I have wondered for months about the Lawry’s seasoning salt but figure that the taste was worth the risk–crazy right, smh at myself. Anyway, since Lawry’s is the only thing that I’ve continued to eat with questionable ingredients I decided to do my due diligence. I’m not at all surprised by what you have found, I just wish I wound have started my search sooner–lesson learned. Anyway, I just want to take a moment and thank you for your due diligence and helping so many of us with this review of the popular seasoning salt. I have even found a replacement recipe for Lawry’s. I’m so very excited. Thanks again~ Eyedie
Eyedie,
I am so happy you were able to find help here. Praise God that you kept seeking answers and being confident that you would find an answer.
Thank you for writing this. Enlightening story about the deception behind food labeling. I am currently a user of Lawry’s. I will find another product now.
Thank you for posting your research. I was planning to buy a bottle of Lawry’s Seasoning Salt tomorrow. If people knew what some people go through with their health, they would understand why we check every ingredient in a product we buy. before we consume it.