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What are “spices”?

October 7th, 2005 9:03pm. Rants

No seriously. At the end of the ingredients list of tens of thousands of products it reads “and spices”. So what are they? Pepper? Nope, ’cause I’ve seen things that list pepper separately. Salt? No, they always list that. Oregano? Bug parts? Plutonium? Dirt? What?! I want to know!

7 Responses to “What are “spices”?”

  1. Carlotta Says:

    Ach. Now I will never sleep at night…hmmm?

  2. Free Says:

    Herewith the official definition of spices from the FDA. As for pepper, manufacturers are allowed either to list it, or to include it in “spices.”

  3. Lee Says:

    DEFINITIONS:

    1. SPICES - General Definition - Aromatic vegetable substances, in the whole, broken, or ground form, whose significant function in food is seasoning rather than nutrition. They are true to name and from them no portion of any volatile oil or other flavoring principle has been removed.

    So… … … officially… according to the FDA… … It could be minced digitalis leaves, or ground pine tree needles, or dandilion roots, or cardamom.

  4. Bathes in Milk Says:

    Dandelion roots are not as edible as the actual leaves, which are oly nice when they are fresh.

  5. Free Says:

    Well, the rules we’re discussing only get to the labeling–not to other rules concerning safety. But to the extent that any of these things was considered safe for use in foods, it could be a spice.

  6. Amy Says:

    I’ve heard that “spices” are a chemical that is added to food that makes it addictive and makes us sick. Congress is responable for this mess. Any lable that doesn’t list the “spices” after the word is a chemical that our body can not digest.

  7. MURITALA .K. IBIKUNLE Says:

    give full detail on spices

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