I purchased a carton of “heavy cream” the other day, and was shocked when I looked at the list of ingredients.
It’s not just cream anymore, it’s a bunch of other stuff too, like carrageenan, diglycerides, and polysorbate 80.
Here’s the ingredients list from Hood brand heavy cream:
CREAM, CARRAGEENAN (HELPS HOLD THE WHIPPED CREAM PEAKS), MONO & DIGLYCERIDES (HELPS PUT AIR INTO CREAM AS IT IS WHIPPING), POLYSORBATE 80 (HELPS CREATE STIFF PEAKS)
I had previously read about specifically avoiding “whipping cream” because it could have extra emulsifiers, but I truly thought you could still buy 100% pure cream. Not anymore. Even Organic Valley and Stoneyfield brands both contained carrageenan!
What’s wrong with this picture!?
Thankfully, there is a local dairy farm (Shaw Farm) that does sell cream, and other milk products, including non-homogenized whole milk. I will be looking into their products from now on!
PS: The heavy cream WAS very easy to whip into whipped cream, using my Kitchenaid mixer. It was actually the first time I attempted it! It did not get watery, I assume that was due to the additives. It was delicious though and everyone enjoyed it.
UPDATE: Good news, I was at Trader Joe’s the other day, and they sell cream that was JUST CREAM. Unfortunately no organic offering though, but I believe it’s rBGT free.
I also found the local Shaw’s Farm sells cream at a farmstore I visit, so I might try theirs next.
Wow, I’m surprised that heavy cream has carrageenan! That is nuts! That pesky ingredient is starting to pop up in everything…
I also find it odd that cream needs things added to it when it seemed to work just fine on its own for centuries. But I don’t have a huge issue with carrageenan in particular. I know it’s added to a lot of dairy products but I generally avoid dairy anyway. It’s just a seaweed extract, isn’t it? That helps foods “gel”? Sigh. Nothing is what it seems anymore, is it?
I don’t think I have an aversion to it either Norma, but there are reports out that it can cause a lot of problems in some. I haven t done a lot of research on it but I’m trying to avoid it when I can.
Its funny! Are people that lazy that they don’t want to shake the carton or bottle anymore? They add in all the emulsifiers and stabilizers and people don’t know how real food is supposed to be! Hahaha
Good news, I was at Trader Joe’s the other day, and they sell cream that was JUST CREAM. Unfortunately no organic offering.
I also found the local Shaw’s Farm sells at a farmstore I like to go to, so I might try theirs next.