Through his new book The purchasing guide to eating well (First edition) published on September 21, 2023, Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen, nutritionist, sifts through 700 everyday products found in the supermarket. Interviewed by Top Santé, he shares the keys to making the best choices during races.
Today, 9 out of 10 French people attend a supermarket for the races Daily. It is a fact, mass distribution remains the main source of supply for food. In this context, the Dr Jean-Michel Cohen has given itself the mission of helping and guiding the French in their food choices.
Nutritionist doctor, Dr. Cohen has just published his new book The buying guide to eating well (ed. First) through which 700 everyday products are deciphered. By taking into account their effects on our health, the doctor helps you distinguish good products from bad ones.
“ People have become more and more attentive to food quality that they buy. The first example that comes to mind isPalm oil. When its dangers were highlighted, consumers questioned their food choices. As a result, manufacturers were forced to adapt, which improved many things », shares Dr. Cohen for Top Health.
Are there any products you should not buy in the supermarket?
According to Dr. Cohen, the biggest mistake of the French is to buy a product based on its photo and name. “ The photo may be attractive and remind you of something positive, but just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean it’s good. You have to look at the label “.
He also warns against certain products that it is better not to buy in supermarkets. This is particularly the case for prepared meals and rillettes and terrines.
Prepared dishes
“ This is undoubtedly the first thing to avoid in the supermarket. To achieve these prices, the manufacturer is forced to use low quality foods. This is not possible otherwise. We rarely see frozen meals that include top-tier chicken. These are the kind of products that I will never buy in the supermarket », Explains the doctor.
Pâtés, rillettes and terrines
According to Dr. Cohen, just like ready-made meals, rillettes cannot bring together quality products at the prices displayed in supermarkets. “ I had looked at the capacity of a duck mousse with port, the first ingredient of which was pork fat. It’s very harmful, even if the pigs have changed todayi”. Generally speaking, when you see that fat is the first ingredient in a product, you must think that it will be bad for your health, especially when it comes to animal fat.
Instant noodles
“ Everyone loves it, but in some, we find artificial beef flavoring, itself composed of soya flavor enhancer and a coloring », adds the expert.
Plain shells with “express” butter
Some brands also offer “express cooking” pasta. The manufacturer puts pre-cooked pasta in it. The interest for the consumer? Save time with cooking which can last from 1 to 3 minutes.
“ I call for distrust especially regarding the butter shells: they use oil, butter and two emulsifiers as well as a thickener and a coloring. If you want the butter to stick to the shells, you need emulsifier. Several studies accuse them of being involved in certain cancers. As for colorings and thickeners, they are added to give more appearance to the dishes and to ensure their preservation. », specifies Dr Cohen.
Certainly, with its packaging which will speak of natural butter shells, the product will appear harmless, but its content is not that much…
To read to go further: The buying guide to eating well (ed. First)