Therefore, one is more correct

It's not always easy to know what to choose in the store.

Take Rema 1000's taco seasoning blends. The simplest, from low-cost Prima Lavpris brand Rema 1000, costs two kroner, and the most expensive, R Texmmex Taco Spice Seasoning Blend, costs 10.90 kroner. The packages contain the same amount, and both are intended for use in a ground beef package.

Both the price and design help highlight what's cheap, but a look at the ingredient lists tells you otherwise.

If we read the back of the packaging, there is a clear conflict between two accepted truths about the food we buy: “You get what you pay for,” and “The shorter the ingredient list, the better.”

Great taco seasoning blend at a low price Contains the following: paprika (24%), chili pepper (19%), cumin (16%), onion (12%), salt (10%), garlic (10%), coriander (5%), oregano ( 4). %).

R Texmex Taco Seasoning Blend Contains chili powder (30%), paprika (18%), salt (15%), garlic powder (13.5%), onion powder (12%), cumin (8.5%), coriander (2%), antioxidant. To clump. (E551) and rapeseed oil.

– Added silicon dioxide (E-551) means the final product is classified as ultra-processed. Additionally, we see that Prima Seasoning contains less salt and consists of only the ingredients you would expect to find in a spice blend, Ida Nordengren tells DinSide.

Warns against ultra-processed foods: – They cause problems

Nordengren is one of several people behind the “Frifor” app, which makes ingredient lists easier to understand. It started as an app to make it easier to identify allergens in food after Nordengren developed celiac disease, but the app could also be used to identify ultra-processed products.

– Interest in ultra-processed foods is becoming greater and greater, and it has become clear that there is a need for a solution that makes these products easier to identify, says Nordengren.

– Many people find it difficult to determine what is ultra-processed or not.

Relates to nutritional advice issued by the Norwegian Health Directorate

Category and purchasing manager at Rema 1000, Line Aarnes, tells DinSide that they refer to nutritional advice issued by the Norwegian Health Directorate when it comes to nutritional considerations in product development.

– We always try to inspire our customers and help them have a healthy, varied and balanced diet in line with nutritional advice, says Arnis and points to different campaigns around healthy products.

– In developing our products, there are also a number of other considerations that we must also take into account, such as access to raw materials, rules and recommendations from authorities, durability and not least taste.

Difficult ingredient lists

There's a lot to keep track of, and ingredient lists aren't always easy to decipher.

– Add-ons may be named with intentionally confusing digits, names, or alternate names. In addition, you should know a little about the processing methods that the products have been subjected to.

What does a sweetener, odor and acidity regulator really mean?

Examples of this include “throwing grains”, “Bleaching with vegetable oil”, Etc.

– It is not easy for consumers to get an overview of all this, Nordengren continues.

She says most people use the app mainly to check if something has been ultra-processed, and that's where they see the most clearly a reaction, but it's still used to look for allergens.

The app is a paid service, with a one-week free trial period.

According to partner and co-founder Vegar Moen, they had 55,500 unique users in the last 28 days.

It's easy to be fooled

According to Nordengren, there is a common belief that ultra-processed products are often cheaper than pure products, but this is a classic example of the opposite.

Ultra-processed goods aren't necessarily cheaper than pure produce, something the people behind Frifor tried to highlight on the app's Instagram account.

– It is common that what is ultra-processed is the cheapest. But this is not always the case in reality.

When asked why the ultra-processed product is the most expensive, Rima 1000 pointed out that the two spice blends have different recipes that give different taste and properties.

The main difference between the two is that the more expensive type contains an anti-caking agent. This is also what makes it ultra-processed.

– Tacos are important to Norwegians and we pay close attention to how they are prepared, which is why we also want to offer a wide and unique range of products in the taco shelf, which reflects the customer's wallet, wants and needs, says Arnes.

Cheese sauce: – It's a trick

A step in the right direction

It's not easy being a consumer. One year it's salt, one year it's sugar, one year it's highly processed. then Dagbladet took a closer look at the taco seasoning table of contents In 2017, salt and sugar were in the spotlight.

At the time, Rema 1000 had two spice blends, both under the Texmex brand, and one mild. At the time they both contained sugar, this has now been removed. The proportion of salt and sugar also decreased.