North by Northwestern

Attention ice cream lovers: your Chubby Hubby has been lying to you.

If you, like many other unsuspecting consumers, felt comforted by the words “All Natural” scrawled across the labels on pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice creams, prepare to be disillusioned.

Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s parent company, announced earlier this month that it will be removing the words “All Natural” from containers of ice cream that have ingredients such as alkalized cocoa, corn syrup and partially hydrogenated soybean oil. The announcement came after the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a watchdog group focusing on nutritional and environmental advocacy, criticized Ben & Jerry’s misuse of the “All Natural” claim on 48 of its 53 ice cream and frozen yogurt flavors.

This is bad news for hungry college students — if Ben & Jerry’s, the same brand that preaches environmental friendliness and “Whirled Peace,” is not all natural, what is?

“The problem with processed or convenience food is that they have more sugar, salt and fat,” says North Shore Hospital Dietitian and Nutritionist Mary Suarez. “Additives like this can lead to health problems.”

But when it’s midnight and you’ve got the munchies, the types of foods Suarez warns against are often the most readily available. C-store selections like ramen, nacho cheese and now Ben & Jerry’s are all obvious violators of “all natural” standards, but the shelves are stocked with other secretive offenders.

It is relatively easy for food companies to make the “all natural” claim thanks in part to the FDA’s vague definition of the term. In fact, according to the administration’s website, there is no specific definition for what can be deemed “natural” because the only unnatural products are those that include “added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances.”

With that definition — if it can even be considered a definition — several brands of greasy potato chips like Wise and Lays can be considered “all natural.” So clearly “all natural” does not necessarily mean healthy. But is the opposite true? If a food has healthy ingredients is it “all natural” by default? The answer again is no. Although we tend to believe certain foods are naturally healthy, oftentimes they contain processed ingredients that negate the natural ones.

Take smoothies; the mix of fruit with nice flavor and texture is good in theory, but when the amount of added sugar is calculated in, that illusion of health quickly disappears. In fact, Jamba Juice smoothies can pack up to 126 grams of sugar into one Power sized drink. And when you grab a Nature Valley Chewy Granola Bar on the way to class, beware; the second ingredient listed is high-maltose corn syrup — not exactly “100% Natural,” as the front of the box proclaims.

Even herbal supplements are not a safe zone. Suarez recommends steering clear of products that advertise the benefits of these innocuous supplements “if they aren’t regulated by the government.” Supplements like comfrey and kava have been linked to severe liver damage and are specifically highlighted by the FDA as seemingly natural ingredients that could in fact be major health hazards.

Like certain herbal supplements, unnatural ingredients can pose serious health risks. Suarez warns that preservatives and ingredients like salt can increase blood pressure and saturated and trans fats are associated with heart disease and diabetes.

“Basically stay away from anything fried and watch salt, fat and sugar,” says Suarez. “Try to go with items that are grilled, baked or broiled. And of course, incorporate some fruits and vegetables into the diet.”

With Suarez’s advice, there is still hope for the college student looking for a late-night health fix. C-store offerings like nuts, cheese sticks and vegetable cups are go-to snacks if you’re looking to satisfy your hunger without sacrificing your health. And if you need to splurge every now and then, go ahead. After all, once college is over your ramen selection won’t be so impressive anymore.