Watch Out For These Imitation Foods

How often do you question what it is that you're actually eating? You may buy stuff expecting it to be one thing, but the reality is that isn't always the case. There's a chance that you might be eating imitation foods that contain additional ingredients or which might even be something else entirely.

It's important to know when this is the case so you can avoid putting stuff in your body that you don't want. Otherwise, who knows what damage you might be doing to yourself without knowing it. Luckily, we're aware of the imitation foods to watch out for.

Imitation blueberries are not as healthy as the real thing

How often do you look at a food and think to yourself that it must be healthy because it's got fruit in it? It's a perfectly natural response because it's just what we've been programmed to think. However, there are plenty of foods out there that might contain strawberries, raspberries, and more which won't do you any good.

That's because the fruit pieces themselves aren't actually fruit but rather a formation of ingredients like sugar, starch, corn syrup, synthetic flavorings, and food dye. You tend to see this a lot with the blueberries that you might find in muffins, cereal, and bread. While they are sometimes real, you're generally more likely to get the artificial stuff.

Truffle oil may contain synthetic compounds rather than real truffles

There are some foods out there that we'd love to try more often, but they're too rare and expensive. Truffles are one of them. The difficulty of sourcing these things means that they're quite an exclusive ingredient, which is why you're most likely to only get shavings of them with a meal. There's always truffle oil, though, right?

Unfortunately, it seems that this stuff might not be exactly what we think. Although it's supposed to be olive oil that truffles have been steeped in, it's usually just oil combined with synthetic chemical compounds and derivatives. Things like 2,4-dithiapentane are used to give it the distinct flavor that has so many of us fooled.

Cinnamon may actually be cassia from a different tree

Spices are an excellent way to add some kick to a meal, especially a dessert. However, were you aware that every time you enjoy something with cinnamon, you might not actually be eating the spice itself? Instead, you could actually be sampling cassia, which is sometimes known as Chinese cinnamon because it comes from a similar tree.

As the Chinese Cinnamomum cassia tree is apparently more prominent than the Cinnamomum verum tree that ordinary cinnamon comes from, it's easier to source ingredients from. Therefore, a lot of the cinnamon that you see when you go to the grocery store probably comes from here rather than being the authentic spice. At least it still has a good kick.

Vanilla extract is probably an imitation made from a petroleum derivative

Something else that tends to be a popular addition to desserts is vanilla extract. Tons of recipes call for a splash of this stuff which is supposed to be made with real vanilla. Unfortunately, a lot of extract bottles you see in the world are probably imitations that look exactly the same as the real deal.

Apparently, with imitation vanilla, vanillin is processed out of guaiacol - which is a petroleum derivative - and then diluted. Caramel coloring is then reportedly added to give it the distinctive shade that we expect from this product. Supposedly, only 1% of vanilla sold is actually authentic because it's so difficult and expensive to source, hence the prevalence of imitation products.

American cheese slices may be more artificial than we realize

Cheese is a product many of us can probably get behind. It goes great with a lot of different foods, especially because there are so many varieties available. However, don't think for a second that every cheese on the market is real. One of the biggest offenders in this regard is American cheese, slices of which go great on burgers.

While it might seem to taste amazing when it's paired with the right stuff, the ratio of real cheese in one of these slices allegedly doesn't exceed any artificial ingredients. When that's the case, a product can't be referred to as cheese and has to be called something like 'cheese products' or 'singles.' It's a little disappointing.

Cheez Whiz is more artificial than anything else

Another cheesy product that technically doesn't constitute cheese is Cheez Whiz. You may have already guessed that from the distinctive bright coloring that often defines jars of this stuff. If you were clueless before, though, then it's our duty to tell you that this food is packed with artificial colorings and flavorings to imitate a cheese product.

Cheese isn't generally that easy to melt down and spread, yet Cheez Whiz seems to make it a breeze. While the liquified state makes it great for dipping things in as a snack, you should probably be cautious about eating too much of this stuff. It's apparently high in saturated fats and sodium, meaning it isn't good for your health.

Parmesan might be cut with wood pulp or cheaper cheese

These cheese products being imitations of the good stuff might not be that much of a shock to you. However, something that may surprise you is the fact that things like Parmesan may also be fake. Once again, this comes down to the fact that it's pretty expensive to source, prompting companies to search for cheaper alternatives.

According to Olmsted, a lot of the Parmesan you come across has probably been cut with cheaper cheese. That's if you're lucky, anyway. There are some products that are apparently cut with wood pulp, which makes us wonder exactly what we're eating. You should supposedly look for a "Made in Italy" stamp if you want the real deal.

Ground black pepper may actually contain flour, twigs, or papaya seeds

Salt and black pepper are two things that many people probably have sitting on their tables at home, ready to add to a meal. The latter is great if you want to give your food a bit more of a kick, though you should think carefully before using this stuff. It might not actually be what you think it is.

Apparently, analysis of ground black pepper has found it to contain all manner of impurities, including flour, twigs, colored starch, buckwheat, and papaya seeds. You'd think it would be difficult for people to get away with using such things in place of the real ingredient. Nevertheless, companies have managed it and will seemingly continue to do so.

EVOO may actually be diluted with inexpensive alternative oils

Oil is a useful thing to have in the kitchen because it makes cooking that little bit easier. However, you have to be cautious about using this stuff because you don't want to be coating your food in something that's going to do you harm. That's why people tend to go for EVOO when they buy this product.

Unfortunately, this olive oil is not as good for you as you might think. Forbes reportedly claims that 80% of these products on the global market are actually fraudulent. That's because they dilute the real deal with things like peanut or soybean oil. It's how companies keep the costs low because these alternatives are inexpensive and widely produced.

Olive oil that claims to be from other countries could be lying

It's bad enough that olive oils might already be lying to us because they're diluted with cheaper alternatives. However, this isn't the only reason to be wary when buying these products. It seems that these products might also be fraudulent in the sense of claiming they come from somewhere exotic when that isn't actually the case.

Plenty of shoppers may choose to buy olive oil that says it's from somewhere like Italy or Spain because they believe it will have the extra authenticity. However, there have been cases where the products might have come from those countries, but that wasn't where they were actually made. Instead, they were imported from somewhere else first.

Wheat bread is simply bread that is made from wheat flour

From toast to sandwiches, bread is one of those foods that you can do so much with at home. However, people often worry about the carbs that one slice of this stuff contains, so they sometimes search for bread that's more on the healthy side. That's why plenty of shoppers will pick up wheat bread instead of white.

However, it's worth noting that wheat bread is not the same as 100% whole wheat or 100% whole grain bread. This stuff is actually just bread that's made from wheat flour, something that even white bread is made from. That's worth remembering if you're trying to be healthy, especially as generic wheat bread also tends to be lacking in fiber.

Canned pumpkin puree may not actually contain any pumpkin at all

There are certain foods and drinks that people like to turn to at different times of the year. Once summer's over and the days get cooler, pumpkin products are something that tends to be a hit. Dishes like pumpkin pie are a particular staple during fall, although the stuff that goes into it might not be what you think.

The canned pumpkin puree that acts as the filling for this delicious dessert? Yeah, it's not actually pumpkin. Apparently, the insides of a real pumpkin are too watery and flavorless to work in such a dish. So, pumpkin-like ingredients are reportedly used instead. Companies can get away with saying they use 100% pumpkin because of the FDA's lack of rules.

Subway was accused of not using tuna in their tuna subs

How often have you gone to eat somewhere and questioned whether what you're served isn't what you were expecting? That was supposedly what happened to Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin a few years ago when they ate at Subway. According to them, the fast food restaurant's tuna subs didn't actually contain any tuna, prompting a lawsuit.

Several tests were reportedly run by The New York Times and Reuters, which seemed to raise questions regarding what exactly was in these meals. However, the lawsuit was recently dismissed, with Subway remaining firm in its claim that they serve "100% real, wild-caught tuna." After all the drama, though, there are naturally still suspicions over whether that's truly the case.

Sushi restaurants might be lying about the fish they use

Unfortunately, questions regarding what exactly goes into various fish dishes are nothing new. In fact, it seems that plenty of places like to get a little creative when it comes to sourcing seafood for their products. A decade ago, Oceana published its two-year analysis of the fish used in over 1,000 US sushi restaurants, and the findings were concerning.

Apparently, a third of the fish they sampled wasn't what the menus claimed they were. Tuna and red snapper were reportedly the ones most likely to be fake, with 60% of the former and 87% of the latter something else entirely. Some time has passed since then, but we don't imagine things have changed that significantly over the years.

Grouper might actually just be a cheaper species of fish

When it comes to fish, grouper tends to be one of the more expensive options on the menu. Plenty of fine dining restaurants like to use this in their dishes, or at least they say that they do. According to the Florida state attorney general's office, plenty of establishments actually serve up something completely different when they give customers grouper.

The likes of tilapia, hake, and bream have all allegedly been offered in place of this fish without anyone knowing about it. That's because these species are a lot cheaper to import, so they can keep the expenses low while still charging a premium in the restaurant. So, perhaps it's best to order something else next time.

Lobster in a restaurant could actually be langoustine instead

At this point, we're starting to wonder if ordering seafood from a restaurant is ever a good idea. While these dishes can indeed be delicious, it seems there's a very real risk that what we're served isn't actually what we expect. That extends to things like lobsters, another dish that tends to be on the pricier side when dining out.

Unfortunately, what you pay for might not be lobster but actually langoustine, which features a mixture of inexpensive shrimp and crab parts. If you wanted to eat those things, you would probably order them from the menu. Unfortunately, unless you can tell the difference, it's hard to know when the lobster on your plate is actually something else entirely.

Imitation crab meat apparently features an industrially processed fish paste

Another seafood you should apparently be wary of is crab meat because apparently nothing that's caught in the ocean is served up the way it's meant to be. As is seemingly often the case, producers have sought to cut costs with this dish by opting for industrially processed fish instead. According to the Los Angeles Times, this is surimi.

As much as half of an imitation crab product may contain this stuff, which is apparently a paste containing various species. Water, egg whites, sugar, salt, and other ingredients apparently form the rest of the food, with seemingly no crab in sight. It pays to be aware of that the next time you see crab meat at the grocery store.

Farm-raised salmon might only be pink because of dye from farmers

Salmon is one fish that you can generally trust to be what it says it is. However, that doesn't mean this food is entirely authentic. The difference here is that what's presented to you might not actually be how it's supposed to look. That's because plenty of farmers reportedly influence the color of the salmon that they sell.

This fish is actually quite gray, which may seem surprising given we're so accustomed to salmon being pink. While fish that are caught in the wild tend to be this color, ones that are grown on a farm don't. It's only because farmers put a dye into the salmon's food that they eventually become nice and pink.

Kobe beef served in the US isn't usually the real deal

For the longest time, the import of Japanese beef into the US was reportedly banned. Thankfully, times have changed, and the improvement of relations between the two countries means that trade is much more common. That means that selling Kobe beef is a lot easier here than it used to be, not that some restaurants make use of that.

Instead, these places will have this dish on the menu, but it won't be Kobe beef imported from Japan. Once again, it will just be a cheaper alternative that's dressed up to look like this rarer meat. The price of the food will reflect what you think you're getting, allowing those behind the scenes to make more of a profit.

Filet mignon might be an amalgamation of lesser cuts of meat

Filet mignon just sounds expensive. So, when you go to a restaurant and see it on the menu, the price may well feel justified. However, you shouldn't be so quick to accept the cost, considering that you might not be getting quality meat. Apparently, it's not uncommon for this to actually just be lesser cuts of meat bound together.

If you come across this stuff in the grocery store, it's apparently essential that the product say that it's an amalgamation. However, while the USDA has such rules in place for these products, it's seemingly a different situation in restaurants. There, people can apparently get away with lying about it, so that's precisely what some establishments do.

Veggie Straws are not the healthy snack they might seem to be

Veggie straws are another product that you may turn to if you're looking to make your diet healthier. After all, they're supposed to be chips made from vegetables, so they must be good for you, right? If only that were the case. If you look at the ingredients of this product, you'll soon realize it's not what you think.

Things like potato starch, potato flour, canola oil, and other vegetable oils are all included in these chips. Things like spinach powder and tomato paste are also included, but they're minimal in comparison to everything else. The nutritional value of this product reveals that you're much better off just buying some real vegetables and eating those instead.

Whipped topping products are not the same as whipped cream

Whipped cream is delicious to have on a dessert or with a hot chocolate. However, it's important to know that there's a difference between this stuff and certain similar products you'll find at the grocery store. We're talking about things like Cool Whip, which are described as being whipped topping but definitely aren't the same as whipped cream.

The stuff that goes into this product includes hydrogenated vegetable oils, artificial flavorings, high fructose corn syrup, and various other additives. If you do eat this stuff, moderation is absolutely key because the nutritional value of it is entirely lacking. It can very easily take a dessert from being a sweet tweet to something that leaves you feeling sick.

Saffron may not even be made with the right plant

If there's one spice that you should always use sparingly, it's saffron. That's not because this ingredient is so overpowering that it might ruin your meals. No, it's simply because it's so expensive that you don't want to run out too soon. This is down to the harvesting process being so laborious and therefore raising export costs significantly.

Unfortunately, because this stuff is so expensive, it tends to be made cheaper by using other parts of the saffron plant, such as its petals. Sometimes, the saffron you buy might not even be from the same plant, with companies using other flowers or even dried onion. So, you should absolutely be wary of anywhere that sells this stuff cheap.

Wasabi in sushi restaurants is more likely to be dyed horseradish

There are certain things that you should always expect to see when you go to a sushi restaurant. Wasabi is one of them. This green paste is there to deliver a kick, which is why you should only ever eat a small amount at a time. Unfortunately, just because something looks like wasabi, that doesn't mean it is this stuff.

Rather than being made from grated Wasabia Japonica root, this product usually stems from European horseradish. There's a significant difference between the two in terms of how cheap and easy they are to grow, with the latter much easier to mass produce. The extreme difficulty in growing authentic wasabi means that dyed horseradish tends to be the best option.

Tea is reportedly sometimes made with sawdust and other plants

Tea is a drink favored by millions around the world. In places like China, India, and the UK, it's one of the most popular beverages around. However, while the market for this stuff might be huge, that doesn't mean every company is selling the real deal with these products. The Congressional Research Service reportedly discovered as much in 2014.

According to the report they filed back then, some manufacturers were using leaves from other plants or even sawdust in their tea products. Supposedly, this was to ensure they had a longer life. However, we're pretty sure customers would be much happier drinking authentic tea with a shorter life span than something made with sawdust.

Shark fin soup might use alternative ingredients to be more ethical

In certain parts of Asia, shark fin soup is something of a delicacy. As the name indicates, it's a dish commonly made using shark fins, with this element giving the meal texture rather than taste. Unfortunately, the popularity of this food means that millions of sharks are reportedly hunted each year just to use their fins in this soup.

Given concerns about the sustainability and welfare of these creatures, shark fin soup substitutes have grown in popularity. Things like konjac gel, noodles, and gelatinous imitation shark fins are used in place of what was once considered an essential ingredient. Not only does this make the meal a more ethical choice, but it's apparently much more affordable too.

Imitation custard is a cornflour powder that doesn't include eggs

If you were to make custard for a dessert, you would probably mix together eggs with cream, milk, or cheese. However, not everyone has the time or patience to put in such effort. Luckily, you don't necessarily have to when imitation custard powders exist to give you the same product. At least, it looks like the same product.

Custard powder lacks some of the essential ingredients that you'd expect to find in this sauce, including eggs. So, while it might look pretty similar when you mix this corn flour-based product with eggs, it definitely isn't the same. At least those who can't eat eggs - like the man who created this stuff in the 1800s - can still enjoy custard.

Various products imitate eggs without actually containing any

Speaking of eggs, there seems to be a growing number of people sidelining this product in favor of other foods. That might be because they can't eat dairy, but it's also due to the rising interest in following a vegan diet. Consequently, there appear to be more and more products that advertise themselves as eggs but in a different way.

These might be binders that you can use in place of eggs for baking, or they may be things that you can fry or scramble the way you would an ordinary egg. Whatever product you're looking at,  the one guarantee you have is that it won't contain eggs. Unfortunately, there may also be some nutritional differences that aren't always ideal.

Margarine may look like butter, but it's apparently much unhealthier

Have you ever seen margarine in the grocery store and just assumed that it's the same as butter? This sort of thing isn't actually that uncommon, and it's not like the two don't look very similar. Plus, margarine reportedly first became popular because it was introduced as an alternative to butter back in the 1960s.

However, the two are not identical, with margarine reportedly worse to eat than butter. Although it was once considered the healthier choice, research has apparently identified a prevalence of unhealthy fats in this imitation food. With margarine reportedly capable of raising cholesterol levels and increasing the risk of heart disease, it's not something you really want to be eating.

Honey is apparently one of the most-faked foods in the world

As delicious as honey might be, did you ever consider that what you eat with pancakes or on your toast might not actually be honey at all? Unfortunately, there's a very real possibility of this, with honey reportedly being one of the most-faked foods in the world. It seems that a lot of companies would rather manufacture an imitation product.

The situation has been so bad in the past that the US Justice Department filed charges against Groeb Farms and Honey Solutions for importing impure honey to the US. Restaurant chains like KFC also prefer to use the fake stuff on their menu, with the fast-food establishment offering honey that contains six additional sweeteners and some coloring agents.

Oreo cookies do not have the creamy center you might expect

Since Oreo cookies first became available over a century ago, they've risen to become one of the most beloved cookies in the US. Of course, they're not exactly the same as they were all those years ago, with the product undergoing some notable changes in the past. That includes one from the 1990s that saw a slight name alteration.

The cookies now go by Oreo Crèmes, a nod to the fact that it's not actually a creamy filling in the center. Nabisco reportedly switched to using a dairy-free filling made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, switching out the lard-based substance they'd used before. While the inside of the cookie may look like cream, we can assure you it isn't.

Artificial rice combines rice fragments with cereals and micronutrients

Rice often makes an excellent accompaniment to a dish, whether you're having curry, chili, fish, or a bunch of other meals. However, were you aware that not all rice in the world is actually as it seems? Apparently, there is such a thing as artificial rice which is made from rice fragments, cereals, and various micronutrients.

This stuff is apparently most commonly used for developing countries to help tackle problems with famine, although you never know when you might encounter it. Some myths have emerged about this imitation food actually being produced using plastic, but Snopes has seemingly debunked such claims. If plastic were used in artificial rice, it would actually probably cost manufacturers more money.

Milk products may now stem from many sources other than cows

It used to be that if you went to the grocery store for milk, the only decision you had to make was whether you wanted it skimmed or not. Now, you have to decide if you want milk from cows, coconuts, almonds, or something else entirely. There's a wide variety of milk on offer to seemingly suit everyone's needs.

There's apparently been much frustration from dairy manufacturers about these imitation products being labeled as milk, even though they come from alternative sources. However, there's seemingly nothing stopping them from being referred to as such, given they effectively serve the same purpose. People just have to remember that all of these imitations come from other places than regular milk.

Maple syrup reportedly isn't maple syrup if it contains multiple ingredients

Maple syrup is one of the sweetest things you will ever eat. This stuff is delicious, although it's best enjoyed in moderation if you don't wish to get a toothache or sugar high. However, before you go pouring it on all of your favorite sweet treats, it's worth remembering that imitation maple syrup products do exist.

In fact, most products that you'll find in the grocery store don't actually contain maple syrup. They don't feature the sap taken from these trees, instead using things like artificial flavorings, colorings, and thickening agents. You can apparently tell the difference by looking at the ingredients because maple syrup will only contain one thing - maple syrup.

Non-dairy creamers are lactose-free versions of milk and cream for coffees

People like their coffee in all sorts of ways. Some prefer to take it black because they like the strong taste. Others opt to pour sugar in because they need the sweetness to balance out the bitterness. Then, there are those who add milk or cream to weaken the drink slightly and make it more palatable.

For those who want to do the latter but can't or don't have dairy, there are non-dairy creamers available. These may come in liquid form or as dry granules, with both reportedly free of lactose. Unfortunately, while they are referred to as non-dairy products, some of them do contain casein, which is a milk-derived protein.

Fruit juice may be cut with cheaper juices on the market

Fruit juice once seemed like a suitable thing to drink with breakfast in the morning. However, we're not so sure about that anymore. For one, this stuff contains a lot of sugar, and while the vitamin intake can be good for you, it's not necessarily the best way to start your day. That isn't the worst part, though.

It seems that this beverage is actually quite easy to fake, with manufacturers willing to cut these drinks with some that are cheaper to produce. For instance, your glass of orange juice may actually contain grapefruit or lemon juice. There's also a chance that the drink is nothing more than a cocktail of dyes and flavorings rather than something healthy.

Bacon bits may actually be suitable for vegans to eat

For those who love meat, bacon bits probably seem like a winning treat. You just cover your food with a smattering of the stuff and then tuck in. While this might not sound appealing in the slightest to any vegans and vegetarians, you might be surprised to learn that this stuff isn't as bad as it sounds.

It turns out that a lot of products advertised as bacon bits are actually vegan- and vegetarian-friendly because they don't contain animal products at all. Instead, they're reportedly made using soy flour, yeast extract, and several flavor enhancers. So, while you might think that you're eating bacon, you're actually enjoying a product that is suitable for almost everyone.

Imitation caviar may contain the wrong fish eggs or none at all

When it comes to exclusive foods, caviar is definitely up there as something we typically only expect people to eat if they have plenty of money to spare. However, there are more affordable versions on the market; you just have to accept that what you buy might not technically be caviar. That's because of the fish it comes from.

For a product to be true caviar, it should apparently come from a sturgeon. However, you'll find plenty of fish eggs from the likes of trout and salmon being labeled as and sold as caviar. It could be worse, though. Some imitation products don't even use fish eggs, instead combining seafood extracts, gelling agents, and dyes.

Ice cream isn't technically ice cream if it contains too much air

Whether you're feeling low and you need something to perk you up, or you just want to enjoy a sweet treat, ice cream is a wonderful thing to turn to. We can't promise that you'll find happiness at the bottom of the tub, but we always feel it's worth looking anyway. Just make sure it is ice cream you're eating.

It's easy to make the mistake, given how many tubs of frozen desserts there are now that probably seem exactly like ice cream. However, the FDA has certain rules about what does and doesn't constitute ice cream. It effectively all comes down to how much air has been whipped into the product to determine what it actually is.

Ground coffee might contain all manner of unexpected ingredients

It's safe to say that coffee is a pretty popular drink. Apparently, more than 2 billion cups are consumed around the world each day, with 87% of Americans reportedly fond of the beverage. If that's the case, there are probably a lot of people who are going to be upset to learn that ground coffee isn't always what it seems.

According to Olmsted, ingredients like twigs, ground parchment, roasted corn, and barley have all been identified in ground coffee products. Things like cereals, caramel, starch, figs, and more have also previously been discovered in powdered instant coffee. Perhaps it's time to start grinding your own beans to avoid drinking stuff that you would rather avoid?