By Request - Ben & Jerry ice cream is not all natural - STOP THE PRESSES!

Ben & Jerry's to drop 'All Natural' from labels

Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's is dropping the phrase "all natural" from all labels after a request from a health advocacy group.
Do you really want me to go on a huge tear about “health advocacy groups”? I’ll do it, I swear.

The CSPI told the company last month it should not use "all natural" if products contain alkalized cocoa, corn syrup, hydrogenated oil or other ingredients that are not natural.
Oh the horror, the ingredients in Ben & Jerry’s aren’t natural. I have to ask, is this a shock for any of you? I go by the mentality of “if it tastes good, it’s probably not good for me” – so I’m really not surprised by this “revelation.”

Ben & Jerry's, a unit of consumer products giant Unilever, said it's not changing any recipes.
Good. I’d have to go hunt down Ben and/or Jerry and beat them with a pillowcase full of pints of ice cream if they were willing to change their recipe. That would be a crime.

It's just removing the label from all products, whether they are among the majority that contain at least one of the ingredients CSPI listed or not.
Ahh, the proactive approach. Gotta love it.

The Food & Drug Administration has no formal definition for "natural."
So the health advocacy people have their panties in a twist, why, exactly?

The CSPI, based in Washington, said the government should define the term.
Why do we need the government involved in more than they already are? I mean, sheesh, they are already up in my healthcare – I don’t need them up in my ice cream now too.

"The Food and Drug Administration could do consumers and food manufacturers a great service by actually defining when the word 'natural' can and cannot be used to characterize a given ingredient," CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson said in a statement.
You know, I’ve got an idea. Let’s let Noah Webster do it and save the government a lot of trouble and unnecessary spending.

natural nat•u•ral
[nach-er-uh l, nach-ruh l]
–adjective
1. existing in or formed by nature ( opposed to artificial): a natural bridge.
2. based on the state of things in nature; constituted by nature: Growth is a natural process.
3. of or pertaining to nature or the universe: natural beauty.
4. of, pertaining to, or occupied with the study of natural science: conducting natural experiments.
5. in a state of nature; uncultivated, as land.
6. growing spontaneously, without being planted or tended by human hand, as vegetation.
7. having undergone little or no processing and containing no chemical additives: natural food; natural ingredients. Compare organic ( def. 11 ) .
8. having a real or physical existence, as opposed to one that is spiritual, intellectual, fictitious, etc.
9. of, pertaining to, or proper to the nature or essential constitution: natural ability.
10. proper to the circumstances of the case: a natural result of his greed.
11. free from affectation or constraint: a natural manner.
12. arising easily or spontaneously: a natural courtesy to strangers.
13. consonant with the nature or character of.
14. in accordance with the nature of things: It was natural that he should hit back.
15. based upon the innate moral feeling of humankind: natural justice.
16. in conformity with the ordinary course of nature; not unusual or exceptional.
17. happening in the ordinary or usual course of things, without the intervention of accident, violence, etc.
18. related only by birth; of no legal relationship; illegitimate: a natural son.
19. related by blood rather than by adoption.
20. based on what is learned from nature rather than on revelation.
21. true to or closely imitating nature: a natural representation.
22. unenlightened or unregenerate: the natural man.
23. being such by nature; born such: a natural fool.
24. Music . a. neither sharp nor flat. b. changed in pitch by the sign ♮.
25. not treated, tanned, refined, etc.; in its original or raw state: natural wood; natural cowhide.
26. (of a horn or trumpet) having neither side holes nor valves.
27. not tinted or colored; undyed.
28. having a pale tannish or grayish-yellow color, as many woods and untreated animal skins.
29. Cards . a. being a card other than a wild card or joker. b. (of a set or sequence of cards) containing no wild cards.
30. having or showing feelings, as affection, gratitude, or kindness, considered part of basic human nature.
Antonym: Ben & Jerry's ingredient list

Ben & Jerry's spokesman Sean Greenwood said the change would happen gradually across Ben & Jerry's product line.
So, if Ben & Jerry’s is taking it off, why are we still having this discussion? I’m so confused.

The ingredients will be the same ones Ben & Jerry's has always used, but the company no longer wants to battle over the definition of "all natural," which has different meanings to different people, Greenwood said. "Ben & Jerry's has always been a company that tried to source as responsibly as possible, label our products accordingly and let it all out there for people to see," he said. "But this takes away any misconceptions for people."
Really, let ‘s be honest … if you’re in the store and you jonesing for some Phish Food or Cherry Garcia, are you going to look at that pint of Ben & Jerry’s sitting next to the “all natural” (and quite possibly tasteless) other brand and choose the other brand? I don’t think so. I don’t care if “all natural” is on the label or not … when I want to go on a date with Ben & Jerry, then by God, I’m going to do it and nothing on the label (or not on the label) is going to change that.

For the love of all things holy, it’s just ice cream. Get a grip.

---

This is post 100 ... ice cream is such a great topic for that! So thanks Jeanette.

And thanks to all of you who read my mindless ramblings, keep commenting and asking for more. I'd have given up long ago if you didn't love it.