Being A Smart Consumer

I went to the grocery store yesterday when I ran out of Half and Half (which is a major tragedy and does not make me happy…I need my morning coffee). My regular Half and Half was next to the Fat Free version…and my thought was “What is the point of fat-free half and half?” It is the fat content that differentiates milk from cream. But I decided to go ahead and make sure I was correct. (Yes, that is correct.)

So I looked up the cost of fat free half and half vs. the same size cartons of milk. MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PRICE. (Same brand, same size container, same source, in this case Amazon.)

I jokingly posted my observations on Facebook. Surprisingly, the response from some people was “the mouth feel”, or the thickness of the liquid.

So I dove in a bit more on fat free half and half. Livestrong has a great article, but this is the thing that really shocked me: “Despite its name, fat-free half-and-half still has fat: About 1.4 grams of fat per 100 grams (3.4 ounces). Unlike other half-and-half products made up of whole milk and cream, this type of half-and-half is composed of nonfat milk that has been thickened with various additives, like corn syrup. This results in a high-carbohydrate product that also contains more sodium than any other milk or half-and-half product.”

The reason most people consume “fat free” products is for the health benefits. The same size cartons of milk and half and half are both pasteurized and have similar “shelf life”. Usually milk is consumed in much larger quantities than half and half (glass of milk, on your morning cereal — usually in measurements in cups, vs. teaspoons or tablespoons of half and half in your coffee.) To me, the health benefits of ADDING corn syrup (which arguably is much worse for many people than the small amount of fat in 2T of half and half) and then PAYING TWICE AS MUCH MONEY for a product that goes bad in the same amount of time as milk which people generally consume faster, seems ludicrous. But hey, your choice.

This brings me back to my last article on vetting “experts” when making a decision on job search “consultants”. The dairy industry is making HUGE PROFITS on the sale of something that sounds like a great product, but once you dig in, may not be quite what it is touted to be. And it is all due to marketing and advertising.

I personally would never buy a car without checking ALL the data: safety ratings, gas mileage, vehicle maintenance records — before then comparing the prices from all the dealerships and online sources before spending that much money. Why on earth would someone seeking out someone to help them with one of the MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND PROCESSES that impacts their very income not do the same? Why would they support clickbait without having all the facts? Why would they willingly be the ignorant consumer for someone that has no idea what they are talking about? Read beyond the marketing/sales pitch. Do your homework. If you still want to part with your money because someone plays to your insecurities or frustrations — that is 100% your choice, but just be a savvy consumer and be honest with yourself while you are doing it.